St. Petersburg, FL Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- FS 501.022
- Permit issuer
- Pinellas Clerk of Court
- Threshold
- Sales over $25
- Cancellation right
- 3 days
Summary
Door-to-door solicitors in St. Petersburg generally need a Pinellas County Home Solicitation Permit and must comply with Florida Statute 501.022 and city soliciting ordinances.
501.022 Home solicitation sale; permit required. — (1)(a) It is unlawful for any person to conduct any home solicitation sale, as defined in s. 501.021 , or to supervise excluded minors conducting such sales provided in subparagraph (b)5., in this state without first obtaining a valid home solicitation sale permit as provided in this section.
(b) The following are excluded from the operation of this section: 1. Bona fide agents, business representatives, or salespersons making calls or soliciting orders at the usual place of business of a customer regarding products or services for use in connection with the customer’s business.
2. Solicitors, salespersons, or agents making a call or business visit upon the express invitation, oral or written, of an inhabitant of the premises or her or his agent.
3. Telephone solicitors, salespersons, or agents making calls which involve transactions that are unsolicited by the consumer and consummated by telephone and without any other contact between the buyer and the seller or its representative prior to delivery of the goods or performance of the services.
4. Solicitors, salespersons, or agents conducting a sale, lease, or rental of consumer goods or services by sample, catalog, or brochure for future delivery.
5. Minors, as defined in s. 1.01 (13), conducting home solicitation sales under the supervision of an adult supervisor who holds a valid home solicitation sale permit. Minors excluded from operation of this section must, however, carry personal identification which includes their full name, date of birth, residence address, and employer and the name and permit number of their adult supervisor.
6. Those sellers or their representatives that are currently regulated as to the sale of goods and services by chapter 475 or chapter 497.
7. Solicitors, salespersons, or agents making calls or soliciting orders on behalf of a religious, charitable, scientific, educational, or veterans’ institution or organization holding a sales tax exemption certificate under s. 212.08 (7).
(2) Applicants for permits shall file sworn applications in writing with the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which applicants intend to conduct home solicitation sales. The clerk of the circuit court for the county is authorized to impose a reasonable permit fee sufficient to offset the administrative costs associated with the permitting procedure. Each application shall be on a form as required by the clerk of the circuit court for the county receiving the application, but shall contain the following as a minimum: (a) Full name of applicant.
(b) Date of birth of applicant.
(c) Race and sex of applicant.
(d) Permanent residence address of applicant.
(e) Local residence address of applicant.
(f) Name and address of applicant’s employer.
(g) Two recent color photographs of applicant.
(h) A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any crime, the nature of the offense, and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor.
(i) A complete set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law enforcement agency.
Full Breakdown
Door-to-door commercial solicitors operating in St. Petersburg must comply with Florida Statute 501.022, the Home Solicitation Sales Act, which gives buyers a 3-day right of cancellation on transactions over $25. Sellers offering goods or services priced over $25 in face-to-face sales away from a fixed business location must register with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and obtain a Home Solicitation Permit. Applicants must submit fingerprints, pass a background check, and pay registration fees. Religious, political, and charitable canvassers generally do not need a commercial peddler permit but remain subject to no-trespass and no-knock rules. Solicitors must carry their permit and produce it on request from residents or police.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit is a misdemeanor under Florida law with fines and possible jail time. Violators can also be cited under city ordinance and lose permit privileges for repeat offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solicitors need a permit in St. Petersburg?
Are charities and political canvassers exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Petersburg
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Petersburg to another location·View the Florida soliciting & door-to-door overview
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pinellas County handle solicitor permits.