Waco, TX Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Peddlers and door-to-door solicitors on private property
- Exempt
- Canvassers; invited visitors
- Issuance timeline
- Within 3 business days
- Permit term
- 1 year, nontransferable
- Fee waiver
- Available via indigency affidavit
- Appeal window
- 15 days to city council
Summary
Anyone who wants to peddle goods or solicit door-to-door on private property in Waco must first get a permit from the city secretary's office, unless a resident specifically invited them; canvassers are exempt. The city secretary must issue the permit within three business days unless the applicant has a disqualifying recent criminal record or is a registered sex offender.
No person shall act as a peddler or door-to-door solicitor upon private property within the City of Waco without first obtaining a permit in accordance with this division. This section does not apply where the peddler or door-to-door solicitor is on the property by express, prior invitation of the owner of the property or a person residing on the premises. A canvasser is not required to have a permit. ... The permit shall be issued promptly after application but in all cases within three business days unless it is determined ... [applicant is disqualified by certain criminal convictions or sex-offender registration]. ... A permit shall be valid within the meaning of this division for a period of one year from its date of issuance or the term requested, whichever is less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
Section 13-361 requires a permit before anyone acts as a peddler or door-to-door solicitor on private property in the city, with two carve-outs: the rule does not apply where the person has an express, prior invitation from the property owner or a resident, and canvassers (people enlisting support for a cause rather than selling or soliciting donations) never need a permit. sex-offender registry. Section 13-363 requires the applicant's name, a photo, addresses, a description of the activity, date and place of birth, vehicle information, and, for peddlers, the principal business's name and sales-tax license.
Section 13-365 caps the permit at one year; section 13-366 makes it nontransferable; section 13-367 requires it be worn or displayed. Section 13-368 allows denial or revocation for false information, disqualifying convictions, misrepresentation to the public, or implying the city endorses the cause. Section 13-369 gives an applicant 15 days to appeal a denial or revocation to the city council, with a hearing scheduled for the next council meeting more than six days out and a decision due within ten days of the hearing. Section 13-370 lets the applicant apply for a fee waiver by filing an indigency affidavit with the city secretary.
Violations & Fines
Acting as a peddler or door-to-door solicitor without the required permit, or violating a permit condition, is a misdemeanor under the Code of Ordinances general penalty, section 1-14, punishable by a fine of $1.00 to $500.00, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The city may also deny, suspend, or revoke the permit itself under section 13-368 for false statements, disqualifying convictions, or misuse of the permit, subject to the section 13-369 appeal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in Waco?
How long does it take to get a Waco peddler permit?
Can my Waco peddler permit be denied for a past conviction?
What if I can't afford Waco's solicitor permit fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waco
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