Renton, WA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $75.00 nonrefundable, per RMC 5-20-3.D
- Curfew
- No peddling before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
- Issuing office
- City of Renton Finance Department
- Background check
- Police Department criminal history review
- Permit term
- Calendar year, nontransferable
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 90 days jail
Summary
Anyone peddling door-to-door in Renton needs a permit from the Finance Department before approaching a single house. Applicants pay a $75 nonrefundable fee, submit to a police background check, and cannot work before 8:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m.
A. No person, corporation, partnership or other organization shall engage in the business of a peddler within the City limits without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided in this Chapter. If any individual is acting as an agent for or employed by an individual, corporation, partnership or other organization, both the individual and the employer or principal for whom the individual is peddling must obtain a permit as provided in this Chapter. ... 5-20-10 HOURS AND NOTICE: No person shall engage in the business of peddler between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6197, passed August 10, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Renton Municipal Code 5-20-2 bars any person, corporation, partnership or organization from engaging in the peddler business in the city without first obtaining a permit, and requires both the individual seller and any employer or principal to hold separate permits. D. Sales conducted from a fixed parcel must be on CA-zoned property with the owner's signed authorization and a site plan showing the sales area, nearest driveway and nearest fire hydrant. Under RMC 5-20-4, the Finance Department forwards every application to the Police Department for a background investigation and can deny a permit for fraud, misrepresentation, a disqualifying conviction in the past ten years, or a prior permit denial.
RMC 5-20-9 forbids any peddler from claiming an exclusive street location, holding a stationary spot, or operating where a police officer judges the area congested. m. B. Permits run for the calendar year issued, are nontransferable, and fees are not prorated (RMC 5-20-6).
Violations & Fines
Peddling without a permit, peddling outside the 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. window, or peddling in a congested area is a misdemeanor under RMC 5-20-12, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail. A permit can also be revoked by the Finance Department after notice and hearing for fraud, false statements, or any other chapter violation (RMC 5-20-7), and the holder may appeal that revocation or a denial to the City Hearing Examiner within ten days (RMC 5-20-8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in Renton?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Renton
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