San Rafael, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Issuing authority
- Chief of police or designee
- Permit term
- One year from issuance
- Processing time
- 10 days after complete application
- Fingerprint check
- Required of every applicant
- Door-to-door
- Exempt from permit requirement
Summary
San Rafael requires a police-issued permit for peddlers and itinerant merchants who sell from the street, a vehicle, or a fixed location, but door-to-door peddling and soliciting is expressly exempt from the permit requirement under Municipal Code Chapter 10.48.
It shall be unlawful for a person to engage in the business or activities of peddler or itinerant merchant within the city except pursuant to and in strict compliance with a valid permit issued by the chief of police or his designee as provided in this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any peddler or itinerant merchant permittee to allow or tolerate any person who does not also have a peddler or itinerant merchant permit to work for or under the direction of, or on behalf of, or as an agent of the permittee. The requirements for a permit under this chapter shall be in addition to requirements of Chapter 10.04 of this code relating to business licenses.
(Ord. 1811 § 3 (part), 2003).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code section 10.48.040 makes it unlawful to engage in peddling or itinerant-merchant business without a permit from the chief of police, and bars a permittee from letting an unpermitted person work under them. Applicants submit ID, photos, a business description and consent to a fingerprint check; the chief must issue the permit within ten days if requirements are met, and it runs one year. But section 10.48.020(D) exempts door-to-door peddling and soliciting from this chapter entirely, except that the no-soliciting-sign rule in section 10.48.030 still applies. Permits can be denied or revoked for moral-turpitude convictions, with appeal to the city manager.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a peddler or itinerant merchant without a valid permit violates Chapter 10.48, punishable as an infraction or misdemeanor, or by any other remedy available under city or state law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a door-to-door solicitor need a San Rafael peddler permit?
How long is a San Rafael peddler permit valid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
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