Door-to-door solicitors in Winston-Salem must obtain a Peddlers and Solicitors permit from the city under Code Chapter 30. Permits require a background check and state ID. Religious and political canvassing is exempt under First Amendment protections.
Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances Chapter 30 (Licenses), Article II (Peddlers, Solicitors, and Itinerant Merchants) requires commercial door-to-door solicitors to obtain a city permit before operating. Applications are processed through the Inspections Division and require a valid government ID, passport-style photo, a criminal background check, and a non-refundable application fee (typically $25 to $50). Permits are issued for 90 days and must be visibly displayed on a badge while soliciting. Solicitation hours are limited to 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 6:00 PM Sunday. Residents who post NO SOLICITING signs are legally protected; continued solicitation at a posted residence is a Chapter 30 violation. Exemptions apply to religious canvassing, political campaigning, Girl Scout cookie sales and other youth fundraising, and charitable fundraising by 501(c)(3) organizations, though these groups typically register with the NC Secretary of State under the Charitable Solicitation Licensing Act (NCGS 131F). Sex offenders and persons with specified criminal histories cannot obtain permits.
First offense without a permit: $100 civil penalty. Subsequent offenses: $250. Soliciting at NO SOLICITING homes: $100 per occurrence. Permit can be revoked for fraud or criminal activity.
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem driveways require permits for new curb cuts and must meet UDO standards for width and paving material. Residential driveways limited to 24 feet...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem street parking is free in residential areas with 72-hour maximum stays. Downtown has metered parking with enforcement 8 AM to 6 PM Monday throu...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem defines abandoned vehicles as those parked on public streets over 72 hours or inoperative vehicles on private property. Police tag suspicious v...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem prohibits parking of commercial vehicles over 1 ton in residential zoning districts. Semi-trucks, dump trucks, and large delivery vehicles cann...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem is not in a designated high-severity wildfire zone, but wooded neighborhoods along Salem Creek, Muddy Creek, and the western edge near Pilot Mo...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem permits recreational fire pits under the NC Fire Code (Section 307) when fires are contained, attended, and set back at least 25 feet from stru...
See how Winston-Salem's solicitor permits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.