San Antonio, TX Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit Issued Through
- Permit issued through SAPD after background check
- Photo Id Must
- Photo ID must be carried while soliciting
- Allowed Hours
- Allowed hours: 9 AM to sunset
- Permit Valid One
- Permit valid one year; renewable
- Religious/political/charitable Canvassing Exempt
- Religious/political/charitable canvassing exempt
- "no Soliciting" Signs
- "No Soliciting" signs enforceable for commercial visits
Summary
San Antonio Code Chapter 22 requires solicitors, peddlers, and itinerant vendors to obtain a permit from the city through SAPD. Applicants undergo fingerprinting and a background check. Religious, political, and charitable canvassing is exempt. Permitted hours are 9 AM to sunset and "No Soliciting" signs are enforceable.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person enters or remains on or in property of another, including residential land, agricultural land, a recreational vehicle park, a building, a general residential operation operating as a residential treatment center, or an aircraft or other vehicle, without effective consent and the person:(1) had notice that the entry was forbidden; or(2) received notice to depart but failed to do so.(b) For purposes of this section:(1) "Entry" means the intrusion of the entire body.(2) "Notice" means:(A) oral or written communication by the owner or someone with apparent authority to act for the owner;(B) fencing or other enclosure obviously designed to exclude int
Full Breakdown
San Antonio Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 (Peddlers, Solicitors, and Itinerant Vendors) requires any person engaged in door-to-door commercial sales to first obtain a permit from the city, with applications processed through the San Antonio Police Department. The applicant must submit fingerprints, pass a criminal background check, and provide identification, employer information, and a description of the goods or services to be offered. SAPD issues a photo ID that the permittee must carry and produce on request while soliciting in the city.
The ordinance is structured to comply with First Amendment principles articulated in Watchtower v. Stratton (2002): religious, political, and charitable canvassing is exempt from the permit requirement because such expressive activity cannot constitutionally be subjected to a prior license. Commercial solicitation is restricted to daylight hours (typically 9:00 AM to sunset), and commercial canvassers must respect any posted "No Soliciting" sign and leave the premises immediately.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without a permit, soliciting after sunset, or ignoring a "No Soliciting" sign is a Class C misdemeanor under San Antonio Code, punishable by fines up to $500 per offense. Each day constitutes a separate offense. Permit revocation and criminal trespass charges may also apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in San Antonio?
Are religious and political canvassers exempt?
Are "No Soliciting" signs enforceable?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Antonio
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle solicitor permits.