Corcoran City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-545 Regulating Peddlers, Solicitors, Transient Merchants and Door-to-Door Advocates on April 10, 2025 and is effective immediately.
Peddlers, solicitors, transient merchants and door-to-door advocates are defined as any person who:
- Peddler: goes door-to-door, street-to-street, place-to-place to sell and immediately deliver goods, wares, merchandise or services.
- Solicitor: goes door-to-door, street-to-street, place-to-place (for commercial reasons) to obtain orders for goods, wares, merchandise or services to deliver at a later time.
- Transient Merchant: sets up a temporary and transient business in the city, out of a vehicle, temporary structure, trailer, tent or portable shelter to sell goods, wares, or merchandise and occupies a building or lot to exhibit and sell wares (e.g. fireworks tent)
- Door-to-Door Advocate: goes door-to-door for the primary purpose of distributing religious, political, social or other ideological materials.
LICENSE REQURED
All peddlers planning to go door-to-door to sell a product in the City of Corcoran must first apply for a peddlers/solicitors license. Peddlers must wear a City-issued ID badge and have the license on them at all times and show the ID to anyone who asks to see it.
All Transient Merchants who wish to set up temporary business in the city must apply for a license. Transient Merchants must wear a City-issued ID badge and have the license on them at all times and be willing to show the ID to anyone who asks for it.
Door-to-Door Advocates - Those going door-to-door for the purpose of distributing literature but who aren't selling anything, asking for donations, or engaging the homeowner in conversation for the purpose of advocating for a religious, political, social or belief are protected by federal and state constitution and do not need a license but must sill abide by City rules and regulations for other peddlers and solicitors.
CITY-ISSUED ID BADGE
ID badges issued by the City must be clearly displayed on a front outer garment.
The ID badge will include the solicitor's name organization/company, and a photo as well as the date the permit is valid.
If the individual is not wearing an ID badge, ask to see it. If no card can be produced, ask the solicitor to leave and report the unlicensed individual to the City Clerk's office.
"NO SOLICITATION" SIGNS
Property owners who wish to exclude peddlers/solicitors and door-to-door advocates from their premises may place a "No Solicitation" sign upon or near their usual entrance to the premises.
No solicitation shall be interpreted to include all peddlers, solicitors and door-to-door advocates and are not allowed to enter a property with a posted "No Solicitation" (PDF) or similar sign.
RULES & REGULATIONS
- Permits are issued per individual, not per business and/or organization.
- ID badge must be clearly displayed on front outer garment.
- Peddling or soliciting may not occur before 9:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. or until sundown whichever occurs first.
- Peddlers and solicitors may only approach the front door or main entrance of the residence and must abide by posted "No Soliciting" signs.
- Peddlers and solicitors must promptly leave the premises following completion of a transaction or an unsuccessful attempt to contact the resident of the premises.
- Peddlers and solicitors may not claim that their license is an endorsement by the City.
TO APPLY
- Complete the Peddler/Solicitor/Transient Merchant License Application (PDF).
- Submit complete application and application fee of $200 to Corcoran City Hall, Attention City Clerk.
- Applicant will be photographed at City Hall upon completion and approval of application and a License/ID Badge will be issued.