Solicitors, peddlers and itinerant merchants

A license is required to do business as an itinerant merchant, solicitor or peddler in the City of Effingham. The only exception to this is a merchant who offers produce which they have grown themselves.  Please refer to Municipal Code of Ordinances / Chapter 18.

"Itinerant merchant" shall mean:

• Any merchant engaging in or intending to engage in business as a merchant in the city for a period of time not exceeding one hundred (100) days; provided that, peddlers shall not be considered itinerant merchants

The term "peddler" includes any person who travels from place to place within the city, by foot or other conveyance:

• Selling for profit or offering for sale:
  • Goods
  • Wares
  • Merchandise
• Rendering delivery immediately

"Soliciting" shall mean and include any one or more of the following activities:

• Seeking to obtain orders for the purchase of goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs, services of any kind, character or description whatever, for the kind of consideration whatever
• Seeking to obtain prospective customers for application or purchase of insurance of any type, kind or character
• Seeking to obtain subscriptions to books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers and every other type or kind of publication
• Seeking to obtain gifts or contributions of money, clothing or any other valuable thing for the support or benefit of any charitable or nonprofit association, organization, corporation or project