South Fulton, GA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- For-profit door-to-door sales
- Exempt
- Charitable, political, nonprofit, government canvassers
- Max permit term
- 6 months
- Must carry
- Permit + photo ID on person
- Penalty
- Per City Charter § 5.13
Summary
South Fulton makes it unlawful to solicit or call on residences door-to-door for commercial purposes without a permit issued under Sec. 12-5003. Charitable, political and nonprofit canvassing is exempt, and every permit expires no later than six months from issuance, requires a photograph, and must be carried and shown on demand to police or the resident solicited.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of soliciting or calling on residences door-to-door without first having obtained a permit in accordance with the provisions contained in this chapter.(b)The requirement of subsection (a) of this section is meant to apply to door-to-door solicitations for commercial transactions for profit only... (e)The permit shall state the expiration date thereof. In no event shall a permit be valid for more than six months.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' Subsection (b) narrows the requirement to commercial, for-profit transactions: it expressly does not reach charitable, political or nonprofit solicitation where sale proceeds belong to and are used by the nonprofit, and it exempts city, county, state or federal officers and employees on official business. Under subsection (c), a solicitor must carry the permit at all times while soliciting in the city and show it to any police officer or any person being solicited on request. Subsection (d) requires each permit to list the solicitor's name, the name and address of the employer or organization represented, a photograph of the solicitor, and a physical description, and requires solicitors to make themselves available for photographing and any other investigation the city requires.
Subsection (e) caps the permit's life at six months from issuance. Sec. 12-5001 defines 'soliciting' broadly to cover seeking orders for goods, wares, merchandise or services of any kind, seeking insurance customers, and seeking magazine, newspaper or other publication subscriptions, so the permit requirement reaches most for-profit door-to-door sales activity, not just merchandise peddling.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 12-5002 makes any violation of the soliciting chapter punishable 'as provided in section 5.13 of the City Charter,' the city's general penalty provision covering fines and, where authorized, imprisonment for ordinance violations. Soliciting door-to-door for a commercial transaction without the required permit, refusing to display the permit to a police officer or a person solicited, or continuing to solicit after the permit's six-month term has lapsed are each independent violations subject to that charter penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Fulton require a permit for charity or political canvassing?
How long does a South Fulton solicitor permit last?
What must a South Fulton solicitor show if a resident asks?
Sources & Official References
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
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