Solicitors

License requirement. Individuals going door-to-door offering to sell merchandise or to provide services are required to have a current Peddler's and Solicitor's License issued by the County. Check the expiration date, picture and bearer's signature. There is no "grace period" on expiration dates.

How obtained. These licenses are issued by the County Department of Consumer Affairs (222-8435) and are not expensive. They must be applied for in person. They involve a quick background check with Richmond.

Police recommend that they be called at 691-21-31 (police dispatch number) if a peddler/solicitor comes to your door offering to sell goods or services who cannot show such a valid license. Do not purchase from unlicensed vendors. Only exceptions are certain civic groups (e.g., PTSA), newspaper (not magazine) sales, and farmers selling their own produce.

Soliciting contributions in Virginia requires the organization's registration in Richmond with the Division of Consumer Affairs of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. There are certain exemptions, but generally the solicitor should be able to show credentials of the organization for which contributions are sought and questions about suspicious organizations may be referred to either the county or state authorities.

Soliciting votes or signatures is not covered under the above prohibitions, nor are religious missionary activities.