Soliciting & Door-to-Door in Iowa (2026)
14 rules on the books across Iowa, 10 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Solicitor Permits
Permits required for door-to-door salespeople and canvassers, including background check requirements and permitted hours of operation.
Davenport
Heavy RestrictionsDavenport requires a transient merchant license for door-to-door sellers who lack a permanent local business address of…
Read full rule →Ankeny
Significant RestrictionsAnyone peddling, soliciting or acting as a transient merchant door-to-door in the City of Ankeny, Iowa must first…
Read full rule →Cedar Rapids
Significant RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code § 42.02(a) bars any vendor, including door-to-door solicitors, from operating in the city…
Read full rule →Dubuque
Significant RestrictionsDubuque requires anyone selling goods or taking orders door to door, place to place or street to street to hold a…
Read full rule →Sioux City
Significant RestrictionsAnyone peddling goods or taking sales orders door-to-door in Sioux City, Iowa, the Woodbury County seat, must get a…
Read full rule →Waterloo
Significant RestrictionsAnyone carrying on the business of a peddler, solicitor or transient merchant in the City of Waterloo, Iowa must first…
Read full rule →West Des Moines
Significant RestrictionsDoor-to-door solicitors in the City of West Des Moines must obtain a City license before contacting residents, post a…
Read full rule →Ames
Some RestrictionsAnyone who peddles or solicits residence to residence in the City of Ames, Iowa without a fixed indoor place of…
Read full rule →Council Bluffs
Some RestrictionsAnyone going door to door in the City of Council Bluffs selling goods, taking orders, or soliciting donations must…
Read full rule →Des Moines
Some RestrictionsAnyone selling or taking orders door-to-door in Des Moines must first get a peddler's license from the city clerk and…
Read full rule →No-Knock Registry
Programs that let homeowners register to opt out of door-to-door solicitation, and the penalties for solicitors who ignore the list.
Ames
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Ames, Iowa, peddlers and solicitors may not knock between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and posting a No…
Read full rule →Cedar Rapids
Some RestrictionsCedar Rapids makes a posted "No Soliciting" sign legally binding - vendors may not knock or ring the bell there - and…
Read full rule →Davenport
Some RestrictionsDavenport bars door-to-door solicitation before 9 a.m. or after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and entirely on…
Read full rule →Sioux City
Some RestrictionsSioux City, Iowa (Woodbury County) bars door-to-door peddlers and solicitors from working before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m…
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