Peddler's Permit

Peddler, Charitable Solicitation & Palmetto Artisan Permits

Peddlers, charitable solicitors, and palmetto artisans are required to apply and receive a permit before conducting their business or charitable activities within the City of Charleston.

Peddlers

A peddler is any individual, whether a resident of the city or not, traveling by foot or any type of conveyance from place to place, house to house, or street to street while taking or attempting to take refundable security or seat deposits or requesting a person's commitment of time.

Peddlers also take orders for the sale of goods, wares, merchandise, or other personal property of any nature whatsoever for immediate or future delivery, or for services to be furnished immediately or performed in the future, whether or not such individual has, carries, or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of such sale or whether he is collecting advance payments on such sales or not.

Charitable Solicitor

A charitable solicitor is any individual, whether a resident of the city or not, who on behalf of a charitable organization is traveling by foot or any type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to house, or from street to street, requesting, directly or indirectly, for money, credit, property, financial assistance, remuneration, or other thing of value.

Palmetto Artisan

A Palmetto Artisan is any individual who is enrolled in the City of Charleston's Youth Palmetto Art and Business Program, which program is for youths between the ages of nine and 16 and is administered by the Recreation Department, who are traveling by foot or any type of conveyance, from place to place, house to house, or from street to street, attempting to sell palmetto bud fronds that have been physically altered from their natural state into a palmetto art product.

Permit Approval Process

You may pick up a Palmetto Artisan Permit application (PDF) at the City of Charleston's Revenue Collections Division between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. located at:
Revenue Collections Division
2 George Street
Charleston, SC 29401

To obtain an application for a Peddler's Permit or Charitable Solicitor Permit you must visit the Revenue Collections Division Office since these applications are pre-numbered for tracking purposes.

Process

Complete an application and return to the City of Charleston's Revenue Collections Division. Along with your completed application, you must submit the following items

Peddlers and Charitable Solicitors

  • If employed, credentials establishing the exact relationship between the applicant and his employer.
  • A criminal records check pulled through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) within 30 days of submitting the permit application. This information may be obtained by mailing a $25 money order or business check to:
    South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
    Attention Criminal Records
    P.O. Box 21398
    Columbia, SC 29221
  • You may also make your criminal records request in person at SLED's Central Records Division. Your request should include your full name, date of birth, social security number, current mailing address, and phone number. SLED Central Records Division is located at:
    SLED Central Records Division
    4400 Broad River Road
    Columbia, SC 29221
  • A recent photograph of the applicant showing the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear and distinguishing manner.
  • A fee of $7 dollars is required for the permit. Payment is required at the time of submitting your application.

For Palmetto Artisans

  • Proof of age
  • Certificate of Completion from the City of Charleston's Palmetto Art and Business Program
  • A recent photograph of the applicant showing the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear and distinguishing manner
  • Parent's signed consent on the permit application

Incomplete Applications

Incomplete applications shall not be accepted. Applications which are submitted and determined to be incomplete shall be returned to the applicant.