Do you need a permit to sell door to door in Columbus, OH?
Short answer: Yes. Columbus licenses people who peddle, solicit or canvass through its Commercial Sales License (City Code chapter 523), issued by the city's License Section. It takes a background check and proof of identity; the annual license is 150 dollars plus a 20 dollar application fee.
| Permit required? | Yes. The City of Columbus handles peddling, soliciting and canvassing under chapter 523, Commercial Sales License. Its Commercial Sales Promoter application asks for every individual who will peddle, solicit or canvass. |
|---|---|
| Name | Commercial Sales License (chapter 523); a business that sends reps out applies for a Commercial Sales Promoter license |
| Issued by | City of Columbus License Section (Commercial Sales Unit), 4252 Groves Road, Columbus, OH 43232. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone 614-645-8366, email commsales@columbus.gov. |
| Fee | Application: 20 dollars. Annual Commercial Sales license: 150 dollars. A license for one of three periods a year (January to April, May to August, or September to December): 75 dollars. Background check (BCI): 32 dollars. Identification card: 5 dollars. |
| What you need | A Commercial Sales Application, proof of identity (driver license or state ID, military ID or passport), and an Ohio BCI background check. An Ohio Transient Vendor's License is needed only if you sell taxable items, and written permission from the owner only if you sell on private property. The application is sworn and notarized, and asks about felony convictions, probation or parole, sex offender registration and any past city license refusal. |
| City code | Columbus City Code chapter 523 (Commercial Sales License) |
A business that sends reps out can apply for a Commercial Sales Promoter license (300 dollars, plus the 20 dollar application and 32 dollar background check) and list the individuals who will peddle, solicit or canvass.
What to do before you knock in Columbus
- Ask your company who files the application and who pays for it. Reputable companies handle this before your first day.
- Keep the permit (and your ID) on you while you work.
- Respect No Soliciting signs and the allowed hours. A complaint can cost you the permit.
- Give every customer the cancellation notice federal law requires (see permits and laws).
Sources
- City of Columbus: Commercial Sales Application and information sheet (fees, requirements, office hours)
- City of Columbus: Commercial Sales Promoter Application and information sheet
- City of Columbus: Business License Section (links Chapter 523: Commercial Sales License)
Checked 2026-11-06 against the sources above. Cities change these rules; confirm with City of Columbus License Section (Commercial Sales Unit), 4252 Groves Road, Columbus, OH 43232. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone 614-645-8366, email commsales@columbus.gov. before you start. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Columbus door-to-door questions
Do you need a permit to sell door to door in Columbus?
Yes. Columbus licenses people who peddle, solicit or canvass through its Commercial Sales License (City Code chapter 523), issued by the city's License Section. It takes a background check and proof of identity; the annual license is 150 dollars plus a 20 dollar application fee.
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