For a person to be considered a canvasser, peddler, or solicitor by the city, he or she must first contact the Business Services Division for information. A peddler is required to obtain a license and an identification card in accordance with the Municipal Code of the city. Solicitors are required to obtain an identification card only.
License & ID Card
- A Peddler’s license and identification card cost $20
- A Solicitor's identification card cost $10
- Both fees are due at the time of application and are nonrefundable in the event the permit and/or identification card is not obtained or is denied
Applications
Applications for a Solicitor / Peddlers License can be downloaded below
An application can also be obtained from:
Business Services Division
903 W. Main St.
Blue Springs, MO 64015
or by visiting the Application Center
If permitting more than one person (company), contact Business Services at licensing@bluespringsmo.gov.
Residents may obtain a No Solicitor Sticker from Blue Springs City Hall.
Municipal code states: No person shall engage in any act as a peddler without first obtaining from the Finance Department a peddler's license and an identification card in accordance with the provisions herein. No person shall engage in any act as a solicitor without first obtaining from the Finance Department an identification card in accordance with the provisions herein. This Section shall not apply to canvassers which shall not be required to obtain an identification card.
It shall be presumed that an individual is a peddler rather than a solicitor or canvasser. This presumption may be overcome by:
- A showing that donations to the organization for which one wishes to solicit is exempt from Federal income taxation under Section 503 of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it is a duly authorized and existing not-for-profit corporation; or
- A showing that the organization for which one wishes to solicit is an organization whose primary purpose is to influence public policy.
A person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident at their residence without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident for the primary purpose of attempting to enlist support for or against a particular religion, philosophy, ideology, political party, issue or candidate, even if incidental to such purpose the canvasser accepts the donation of money for or against such cause.
A person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident at their residence without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident for the primary purpose of attempting to sell a good or service for profit to themselves or their principal or seeks a donation for any cause of a profit-making or commercial character and shall include all persons, both principal and agents, who engage in or conduct in this City, either in one (1) locality or by traveling from place to place, a temporary or transient business of selling goods, wares and merchandise with the intention of continuing in such business in any one (1) place for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days and who, for the purpose of carrying on such business, hire, lease, occupy or enter into or onto any private or public property, with or without permission of property owner, for the exhibition and/or sale of such goods, wares and merchandise and do not have a permanent place of business within the City of Blue Springs. Peddler shall not mean a full-time student of an educational institution who attempts to make personal contact with a resident or person at their residence or place of business without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident or person for the primary purpose of attempting to sell a good or service as a fund-raising activity for the benefit of an educational program associated with the student's educational institution or any non-profit organization.
A person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident at their residence without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident for the primary purpose of attempting to obtain a donation to a particular patriotic, philanthropic, social service, welfare, benevolent, educational, civic, fraternal, charitable, political or religious organization or purpose, even if incidental to such purpose there is the sale of some good or service. Solicitor shall not mean a full-time student of an educational institution who attempts to make personal contact with a resident or person at their residence or place of business without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident or person for the primary purpose of attempting to obtain a donation as part of a fund-raising activity for the benefit of an educational program associated with the student's educational institution or non-profit organization.