Smyrna, GA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 74 of the Smyrna Code was repealed and re-enacted by Ord. No. 2020-11 on 10-19-20. Section 74-3(a) makes it unlawful to engage in the business of soliciting or calling on residences door-to-door without a permit. Subsection (b) limits the rule to door-to-door solicitations for commercial transactions for profit only, so solicitation for religious, charitable, political or other nonprofit purposes is exempt, as are officers or employees of the city, county, state or federal government on official business. Soliciting is defined in section 74-1 as seeking orders for goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs or services, seeking prospective customers for insurance, or seeking subscriptions to books, magazines, periodicals or newspapers.

The permit must be carried at all times while soliciting and shown to any police officer or any person solicited. It carries the solicitor's name, the name and address of the employer or association represented, a photograph and a physical description, and it states an expiration date that can be no more than six months out. The nonrefundable six-month fee is set by resolution. Section 74-4 puts the Chief of Police in charge of the application form. It asks for residence history for three years, age, a description of the subject matter of the soliciting, the proposed route, prior applications, any felony or other conviction, the three most recent communities solicited, vehicle description and license plate number, and a Social Security number.

Statements are made under oath and the applicant submits to a background investigation by the city police department or designee. Section 74-5 bars a permit for anyone convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude within ten years, anyone convicted of violating the chapter, anyone whose permit was revoked, or anyone who made a false material statement. A denial comes in writing with the reasons and notice of the right to appeal to the city council within 30 days.