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Santa Fe, NM Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Subsection 18-3.6 SFCC 1987
Application lead time
At least 15 calendar days before soliciting
Background check
Required; felony or serious misdemeanor disqualifies
License term
Up to 1 year, renewable
Exempt activity
Charitable, religious, and political solicitation
Revocation bar
1-year wait before reapplying

Summary

Door-to-door sellers in Santa Fe need a city solicitation license before they knock on a single door. Subsection 18-3.6 SFCC 1987 makes unlicensed solicitation unlawful citywide, with the license non-transferable, while Subsection 18-3.5 exempts charitable, religious, and political solicitation from the licensing requirement itself.

18-3.6 - License required. A.Except as set forth in subsection 18-3.5 SFCC 1987 above, it is unlawful for any person to engage in solicitation within the city without a valid solicitation license issued by the city of Santa Fe.B.Licenses are not assignable or transferable.

Full Breakdown

Santa Fe's Solicitation Ordinance, adopted by Ordinance No. 2010-23, requires anyone engaged in door-to-door commercial solicitation, defined as going onto private property to request money, take orders, sell goods, or convey commercial information, to hold a valid city-issued license before doing it. 6 states plainly that solicitation without a license is unlawful, and that a license, once issued, cannot be assigned or transferred to someone else. 7 requires the applicant's name, permanent address, date of birth, social security number, a photograph, ten years of employment history, disclosure of any criminal convictions or pending cases, and a notarized signature consenting to a criminal background check, filed with the city's accounts receivable office at least 15 calendar days before the person intends to solicit.

8, and the city must deny a license to anyone with a felony conviction or a serious misdemeanor such as a violent crime, sexual assault, drug possession, theft, fraud, or burglary. 9 lets the city refuse renewal, or revoke a license outright, for false statements on the application, noncompliance with license conditions, a conviction while operating under the license, or conduct detrimental to public health, safety, peace, or welfare, and a revoked solicitor cannot reapply for a full year. 5, though those solicitors still must follow the ordinance's operating rules on abusive conduct and knocking hours.

Violations & Fines

Soliciting within Santa Fe without a valid license violates Subsection 18-3.6 and is a petty misdemeanor under Subsection 18-3.14, enforceable by police citation or a filed complaint, subject to the general penalty in Section 1-3 SFCC 1987. A license itself can be revoked for false application statements, a conviction while operating under it, or conduct detrimental to public safety, and a revoked solicitor is barred from reapplying for one year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do door-to-door salespeople need a permit in Santa Fe?
Yes. Subsection 18-3.6 SFCC 1987 makes it unlawful to engage in solicitation, defined as going onto private property to sell, take orders, or request money, without a valid city-issued solicitation license. The license is not assignable or transferable, so each solicitor needs their own.
Does a Santa Fe solicitor's license require a background check?
Yes. Subsection 18-3.8 requires the chief of police to run a criminal background check on every applicant, and the city must deny a license to anyone with a felony conviction or a serious misdemeanor such as violent crime, sexual assault, drug possession, theft, fraud, or burglary.
Are charity or political canvassers exempt from Santa Fe's solicitation license?
Yes. Subsection 18-3.5 exempts solicitation for charitable, religious, or political purposes from the city's licensing requirement. Those solicitors still have to follow the ordinance's other operating rules, including the restrictions on abusive conduct and the hours during which they may knock on a door.

Sources & Official References

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