Rowlett, TX Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

No peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant may sell or solicit in Rowlett without a police-issued master permit under Code of Ordinances § 10-233(a). The written application goes to the police department and must disclose the applicant's Social Security number, date of birth, business structure, the dates and frequency of planned solicitation, the merchandise or service offered, whether payment is collected in advance, any felony or moral-turpitude conviction in the past five years, two non-relative references, and a state driver's license or photo ID number. Each individual solicitor working under a master permit must also carry an individual permit (§ 10-233(d)).

The police chief investigates every applicant (§ 10-235) and must issue or refuse the permit not earlier than two days and not later than two weeks after the application is received (§ 10-236(a)); fees are set by council resolution, and every permittee must conspicuously display the permit or an issued badge or sticker. A permit can be denied or revoked if the applicant lied on the application, intends to distribute vulgar or obscene material, is a registered sex offender, or has engaged in assaultive or peace-disturbing conduct (§ 10-237).

Denials and revocations can be appealed first to the city manager within 15 days, and either side may then appeal the city manager's decision to the board of adjustment within 15 days, whose ruling is final (§ 10-238). Handbill distributors making no personal contact with residents must also get a permit (§ 10-234). Exemptions cover on-premise retail sales, city-sponsored event vendors, school fundraising by students, and IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit sales (§ 10-241).