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Permit rules by city

Do you need a permit to sell door to door in Charleston, SC?

Short answer: Yes. Charleston requires a peddler's permit for anyone going house to house taking orders for goods or services, including future delivery, and each person working for a company needs their own. The fee is 7 dollars. You may peddle only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and must carry the permit.

Permit required?Yes. Peddling is defined to include going house to house taking orders for goods or for services to be performed in the future, so order-taking sales for later service are covered. Each peddler working for a company must get an individual permit.
NamePeddler's permit
Issued byApplications go to the chief of police on a form from the city's Revenue Collections Division, which issues the permit: 2 George Street, Suite 1700, Charleston (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Pre-numbered application forms are picked up in person.
Fee7 dollars, paid when you submit the application. A city business license fee may also be due. Permits expire December 31 of the year issued, or on the date printed on the permit if sooner.
What you needA written application with your name, home and local address, a description of what you sell, any vehicle and plate, your employer and proof of your relationship to it, the area and hours you want to work, and your conviction and civil-judgment history. Also a recent head-and-shoulders photo and a criminal records check from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) dated within 30 days. A felony or misdemeanor involving a sex offense, controlled substances or violence, or a fraud judgment, can lead to denial.
Hours you may knockNever between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., so you may peddle only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
No Soliciting signsYes. It is unlawful to solicit on any property where a sign says "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or words of similar import.
Carry or wear it?Yes. You must have your permit on your person while peddling. Permits cannot be transferred.
City codeCharleston City Code chapter 17 (Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations), article V: definitions, general rules for peddlers (division 2) and the peddler permit (division 3)

The permit is issued after a review by the chief of police and the director of revenue collections, who also set any business license fee. Fees are set by city council.

What to do before you knock in Charleston

Sources

Checked 2026-11-06 against the sources above. Cities change these rules; confirm with Applications go to the chief of police on a form from the city's Revenue Collections Division, which issues the permit: 2 George Street, Suite 1700, Charleston (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Pre-numbered application forms are picked up in person. before you start. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Charleston door-to-door questions

Do you need a permit to sell door to door in Charleston?

Yes. Charleston requires a peddler's permit for anyone going house to house taking orders for goods or services, including future delivery, and each person working for a company needs their own. The fee is 7 dollars. You may peddle only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and must carry the permit.

What hours can you knock doors in Charleston?

Never between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., so you may peddle only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Do No Soliciting signs count in Charleston?

Yes. It is unlawful to solicit on any property where a sign says "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or words of similar import.

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