The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office receives many complaints regarding unauthorized solicitation practices and or aggressive solicitation sales tactics. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office recognizes that not all solicitors fall under this category. To help protect the citizens of Santa Rosa County as well as the authorized solicitors who have followed the rules of obtaining and paying for a permit, we have but together this information to help answer questions regarding this issue.

No solicitation/canvassing is allowed in Santa Rosa County without a Permit issued per
Santa Rosa County Ordinance #2002-27. Permits must be obtained from the Clerk of Santa Rosa
County and upon issuance, the permit must be maintained at all times on person(s). The permit must
be produced for review and inspection upon demand of any person. A permit issued may be effective
for a period up to but not exceeding 365 days. The county issued permit includes the picture of the
actual solicitor along with their name,  date of birth,and employer’s name and address.

SAMPLE SOLICITATION IDENTIFICATION CARD

It is unlawful for any person issued a Permit in Santa Rosa County to solicit or canvass between the
hours of 7:00 p.m. and the following 9:00 a.m., unless having been specifically requested or invited by
the owners or occupants of the private residence sought to be solicited or canvassed. Persons engaged
in the activity of soliciting or canvassing with a required permit are prohibited from entering upon a
dwelling or disturbing the occupants of any residence whenever a no soliciting or no canvassing sign
has been posted on or adjacent to the entrance to the dwelling or is in prominent view at the entrance
of the dwelling or when the residence is located in a subdivision or neighborhood that has a no
soliciting or no canvassing sign posted on or adjacent to entrance to subdivision or neighborhood.

Any person issued a permit to solicit or canvass shall upon request of any owner or occupant immediately leave the
residence or place of business of such owner or occupant. Any person engaged in solicitation or canvassing must clearly
state to the person being solicited or canvassed at the initial contact and at all subsequent contacts and before making
any other statement or asking any questions, all of the following: (1) The identity of the solicitor or canvasser; (2) The
legal name of the person or business represented by the solicitor or canvasser; (3) The purpose of the solicitation or canvassing; (4)
The type of goods or services, if applicable, being offered for sale and the method of distribution and (5) The intended
uses of the proceeds or contributions.
It is unlawful for any person to solicit or canvass from, in, or on any public roads, streets, right-of-way, medians or
safety zones, including sidewalks in Santa Rosa County. Persons exempt from this county ordinance: (1) All persons
specifically requested or invited by the owner or occupant to come to a private residence to engage in soliciting or
canvassing; (2) Persons who are either running for elected public office or who are supporting the campaigns of others
who are running for elective public office; (3) Representatives of newspapers making regular house-to-house deliveries;
(4) Representatives of food delivery services; and (5) Canvassing or soliciting for political, charitable, religious or other
noncommercial purpose.

Canvasser means any person, including an employee or agent of another, traveling either by foot, motor vehicle or
any other means of conveyance, who engages in the practice of going door-to-door, from house-to-house or otherwise
along any of the streets within the county for the purpose of distributing handbills, leaflets or fliers directly to the
occupants of private residences or dwellings for commercial purposes. Solicitor means any person, including an
employee or agent of another, traveling either by foot, motor vehicle or another means of conveyance from door-to-door,
from house-to-house or otherwise along any of the streets within the county for purpose of: (1) Selling or taking orders
for or offering to sell or take orders for goods, merchandise, wares, services or other items of value at that time or for
future delivery or services to be performed in the future, for commercial purposes, whether or not such individual has,
carries or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of such sale or attempted sale; or (2) Requesting contributions of
funds, property or anything of value or the pledge of any type of future donation or selling or offering for sale any type of
property.

Permits can be verified with the Clerk of Santa Rosa County at (850) 983-1975.
Solicitors/Canvassers without permits or in violation of the Ordinance should be reported to the Santa Rosa County
Sheriff’s Office non-emergency telephone number (850) 983-1190.