Bay County, FL Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Bay County Code Sec. 19-51
- Application fee
- $50.00
- Standard bond (non-resident)
- $5,000.00
- High-cost item bond
- greater of $25,000 or 20% of value
- Permit duration
- 12 months
- Background check
- FDLE, completed within 10 days
- Automatic denial
- felony within 3 yrs, or fraud/moral turpitude conviction
Summary
Anyone peddling goods door-to-door in unincorporated Bay County must get a permit under Code Sec. 19-51 first, pay a $50.00 application fee, and clear a Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check. Non-resident peddlers, or residents fronting for an out-of-state firm, must also post a $5,000.00 surety bond, one that jumps to at least $25,000.00 for anyone selling high-cost items such as motor vehicles.
Sec. 19-51. - Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a peddler within the county without first obtaining a permit to do so. ... Sec. 19-54. - Application fee. At the time of filing the application for a permit required by this division, a fee of $50.00 shall be paid to the county to cover the cost of the investigation and review of the application which amount may be modified by the board of county commissioners by resolution from time to time. ... Sec. 19-56. - Bond. (a)Every applicant for a permit required by this division who is not a resident of the county, or who is a resident of the county and represents a firm whose principal place of business is located outside the state, shall file with the county a cash bond or a surety bond running in favor of the county in the amount of $5,000.00... (c)If the applicant is offering high cost items for sale within Bay County, the $5,000.00 bond noted in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be replaced by a bond in the amount of the greater of $25,000.00 or 20 percent of the estimated fair market value of the total number of high cost items, including motor vehicles, the peddler intends to offer for sale within Bay County during the duration of the permit.
Full Breakdown
The permit application under Sec. 19-52 demands a sworn statement covering the applicant's identity and address, the goods being sold, employer credentials if applicable, a recent 2x2 photograph, any criminal history, and, for vehicle peddlers, proof of a current Florida motor vehicle dealer license. Applicants must present a driver's license at filing (Sec. 19-53) and submit to a criminal background check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which the county must complete within ten days (Sec. 19-57). Sec. 00 or 20 percent of the estimated fair-market value of high-cost items (including vehicles) if that's what's being sold, and the bond stays in effect for five years after the permit ends.
A felony conviction within the prior three years, or any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or fraud, is an automatic denial ground under Sec. 19-58, with the county required to explain its reasons in writing. Permits run for 12 months (Sec. 19-62), must be displayed on request (Sec. 19-61), and can be revoked for any Code, state-law or ordinance violation (Sec. 19-63). Giving false information on the application, including a bad-faith undervaluing of high-cost items, is separately unlawful under Sec. 19-55.
Violations & Fines
Peddling without the required permit, or violating any provision of this division, is punishable under the county's general penalty, Sec. 1-6, with a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days in jail, or both, and each day of continued unpermitted peddling counted as a separate offense. Filing a false or misleading application is a separate violation under Sec. 19-55, and the county may revoke an existing permit outright under Sec. 19-63.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Bay County peddler permit cost?
Do out-of-county sellers need to post a bond to peddle in Bay County?
Can a felony conviction get a Bay County peddler permit denied?
How long is a Bay County peddler permit valid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bay County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Bay County to another location·View the Florida soliciting & door-to-door overview
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