Sacramento, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 5.116.020
- License required from
- City controller, § 5.116.030
- Bond amount
- $500, § 5.116.040
- Bond hold period
- 90 days post-expiration, § 5.116.050
- Order paperwork
- Written, duplicate, copy to buyer, § 5.116.070
- Violation class
- Infraction, § 5.116.090
Summary
Anyone going house to house in Sacramento selling goods or taking advance orders needs a license first. City Code § 5.116.020 bars engaging in the business of solicitor within the city without a license, backed by a $500 bond and a nonrefundable application fee under Chapter 5.116.
5.116.020 License-Required. No person shall engage in the business of solicitor within the city without first obtaining a license therefor. (Prior code § 10.01.020) ... 5.116.040 Bond-Required-Amount-Conditions. The application for a solicitor's license shall be accompanied by a bond in the penal sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00), executed by a surety company or by two responsible freeholders residing in the city, or in lieu thereof, a cash bond of equal amount, conditioned upon the making of final delivery of the goods ordered, or services to be performed.
Full Breakdown
116, Article I defines and regulates door-to-door solicitors. 010 defines a "solicitor" as any person who goes from house to house or place to place in the city selling, or taking orders for, goods, wares, merchandise, future-delivery articles, or future services, but only where the solicitor demands, accepts, or receives payment or a deposit in advance of final delivery. 020 then flatly requires a license: no person shall engage in the business of solicitor within the city without first obtaining one. 030 requires the applicant to file with the city controller, stating the applicant's name and address, the name and address of anyone represented, and the kind of goods or services offered.
040 requires the application to be accompanied by a $500 bond, from a surety company, two responsible city-resident freeholders, or an equal cash bond, conditioned on final delivery of ordered goods or services, or refund of the advance payment if delivery fails. 050 that bond stays in force, and any cash deposit is held by the city, for 90 days after the license expires unless the city council releases it sooner. 060 gives any person aggrieved by a solicitor's conduct a right of action on the bond for money or damages.
070 requires every order taken to be in writing, in duplicate, stating the terms and any amount paid in advance, with one copy given to the purchaser. 08.
Violations & Fines
Section 5.116.090 makes any violation of Article I an infraction. Because the bond runs directly to aggrieved purchasers under § 5.116.060, a defrauded customer can also sue on the bond itself to recover money or damages, independent of any city enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell door-to-door in Sacramento?
Is a bond required to get a Sacramento solicitor's license?
How long does the bond stay in effect after the license expires?
What happens if a solicitor operates without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle solicitor permits.