Southfield, MI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 84 of the Southfield City Code regulates solicitors, defined in Sec. 7.602 as anyone who goes onto private residential property uninvited to offer goods, services or property, or to seek a contribution for political, charitable, religious or other noncommercial purposes. Section 7.603 requires a permit from the city clerk before any solicitation activity, exempting only people soliciting within three miles of their residence for an educational, charitable, religious or youth organization, and veterans exempted under state law. The application under Sec. 7.604 must include proof of age and identification, a description of the activity, the hours and location sought, the length of time solicitation will run, employer or principal information, a disclosure of any felony, misdemeanor or ordinance conviction, two photographs, and a description of any vehicle used.

An administrative fee set by council resolution is due when the application is filed (Sec. 7.605), and the chief of police reviews every application before the clerk issues the permit (Sec. 7.606). The chief may deny a permit if the proposed solicitation would endanger public safety, if the applicant falsified information, if the applicant was convicted of a sex offense, drug trafficking, violence, fraud or misrepresentation, or if a permit was denied or revoked within the prior two years (Sec. 7.607). Permits run ninety days unless an earlier date is set, and Southfield issues a badge that must be worn conspicuously the entire time the permittee is soliciting (Secs. 7.608-7.609). A denied, suspended or revoked applicant can appeal to the city council within fifteen days (Sec. 7.616).