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

Business license: SMC §5.04 requires every person transacting and carrying on business in the city to hold a business license; this applies to commercial peddlers, solicitors, and door-to-door salespersons. Handbills are separately regulated under SMC Ch. 5.12. Constitutional limits: In Watchtower Bible & Tract Society v. Village of Stratton, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a permit requirement for non-commercial door-to-door canvassing as a violation of the First Amendment. The City may therefore not require a license, permit, or registration for door-to-door religious witnessing, political campaign canvassing, or charitable solicitation that does not involve commercial sales. Charitable fundraisers that solicit in person must still register with the California Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts under the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act (Cal. Gov. Code §12580 et seq.). No-solicitation signs: Property owners who post a clearly visible 'No Solicitors' or 'No Trespassing' sign create a posted refusal of consent; entering past such a sign may constitute trespass under Cal. Penal Code §602(o) regardless of the solicitor's protected speech status.