San Bernardino, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

San Bernardino regulates commercial solicitors under Municipal Code Chapter 5.30 and Chapter 5.04, requiring any person engaged in door-to-door sales, peddling, or itinerant merchant activity within the city to obtain a solicitor permit from the City Clerk. Applications require a government-issued ID, a Live Scan background check through the Police Department, a list of the goods or services being sold, and the dates and hours of proposed activity. Permitted hours are generally 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with solicitation prohibited on Sundays and legal holidays. Permits are valid for a set period (often 90 days) and can be suspended or revoked for fraud, harassment, or criminal activity. Solicitors must carry the permit at all times and show it on request. Religious, political, and charitable canvassers are exempt from permitting under the First Amendment (see Watchtower v. Village of Stratton), but they must honor posted No Solicitation signs and cease contact on request. Residents may post No Solicitation or No Trespassing signs and any solicitor who ignores them commits a misdemeanor under Penal Code 602 and Chapter 5.30. The Police Department handles complaints at (909) 384-5742. Common scams reported in San Bernardino include fake utility representatives, roofing storm chasers, and unlicensed pest control; residents are encouraged to verify credentials before engaging.