Tempe, AZ Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Section 24-71 makes it unlawful to "act as a solicitor" or act as a door-to-door seller in Tempe without first obtaining the matching permit, with a nonrefundable annual application fee set by City Council and prorated after July 1 for the balance of the year. Every individual who actually knocks on doors, whether as owner or as an employee or agent of a permit holder, must also carry a separate identification card and produce it on request from police, city officials or any resident under Section 24-71(d).

Section 24-73 draws the line between the two license types: a door-to-door seller must certify no payment is taken until goods are delivered or services performed, and must post a $1,000 surety bond per salesperson; anyone unwilling or unable to meet that bonding and no-advance-payment rule instead applies for a solicitor's permit, which allows accepting partial or full payment upfront so long as there is no fraud or deceit. § 41-1750, and the Police Chief must return an approval or disapproval within 30 days; a solicitor identification card cannot issue without written police approval.

Section 24-72 exempts state-regulated sellers, newspaper subscription sellers, and scheduled food-delivery services from the whole article, and waives the application fee, but not the $2 ID card fee, for scheduled food delivery. Sellers under 15 can get the permit fee, ID card fee and bond waived if a parent certifies in writing that the minor will sell only in their own neighborhood under parental supervision. All permits and cards expire at year's end and require a fresh application to renew.