17 Iowa towns, 17 quoted. Of these, 1 has a code that bars uninvited soliciting at homes, 15 have permit, registration or hours rules and 1 is unclear. Each row
links its source and shows the date read.
Published October 30, 2026
KnockFiber · independent recruiting company for door-to-door fiber sales
Counts
Iowa towns by rule
Rule
Towns
Uninvited home soliciting barred
1
Permit or license required
14
Registration required
1
Unclear wording: ask the clerk
1
Iowa state law
Read on the legislature's or official code publisher's own site.
§ 555A.1(3)(a): "“Door-to-door sale” means a sale, lease, or rental of consumer goods or services with a purchase price of twenty-five dollars or more, whether under single or multiple contracts" · § 555A.3: "Every seller shall furnish each buyer, at the time the buyer signs the door-to-door sales contract or otherwise agrees to buy consumer goods or services from the seller" (a detachable "Notice of Cancellation")
§ 9C.2: "It shall be unlawful for any transient merchant to sell, dispose of, or offer for sale any tangible personal property of any kind, nature or description" · § 9C.3: "file with the secretary of state of the state of Iowa an application in writing"
Town by town
Ames
Registration required
“Each and every person engaged in residence to residence solicitation of orders for goods or services … shall first obtain and wear, in a manner plainly visible, a registration and identification badge issued by the City Clerk.”
Residence-to-residence solicitors and peddlers with no permanent indoor place in the city need a City Clerk registration badge (sixty days); no calls 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; posted signs honored.
County
Story County
Section
Ch. 17, Sec. 17.26(1), (4), (5), (9), (10), (12), (15)
Hours / signs
Sec. 17.26(10): no soliciting 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.; Sec. 17.26(15): entering premises posted "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or similar is a violation.
Permit
Sec. 17.26(4)-(5), (9), (12): registration badge from City Clerk, issued or refused with reasons within five days; valid sixty days; fee set by City Council.
Code version
American Legal, Ames Municipal Code, 2026 S-1 (current), local legislation current through July 1, 2026; Sec. 17.26 last amended Ord. No. 4591 (4-14-26)
“Any person engaging in peddling, soliciting or in the business of a transient merchant in the City without first obtaining a license as herein provided is in violation of this chapter.”
House-to-house peddlers and solicitors need a City Clerk license after a background check, valid one day to six months; licenses run only 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Sec. 132.09: peddler's and solicitor's licenses are in force only 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, excluding national holidays.
Permit
Secs. 132.03-132.07: City Clerk license per person, one day to six months, fee by schedule, background check with listed disqualifiers, appeal to Council.
Code version
American Legal, Ankeny, IA Code of Ordinances, August 2026 supplement, current through Ordinance 2264, passed 8-17-26
“It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a transient merchant in the city without first obtaining a license as herein provided.”
Transient merchants, who may go door to door selling goods or services, need a city license; calls limited to 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; posted not-welcome notices apply.
County
Scott County
Section
Title 3 Ch. 4, Secs. 3-4-1, 3-4-2, 3-4-4(C)-(D), 3-4-6 to 3-4-9, 3-4-13, 3-4-14, 3-4-15
Hours / signs
Sec. 3-4-4(D): door to door only 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, none Sundays or holidays; Sec. 3-4-4(C): notices that solicitors are not welcome apply.
Permit
Secs. 3-4-6 to 3-4-9, 3-4-15: transient merchant license, police/clerk intake, decision within 10 days; fee 15 dollars per day to 300 dollars per year; state bond acknowledgment.
Code version
American Legal, Bettendorf, IA Code of Ordinances, 2026 S-15, current through Ord. 07-26, passed August 4, 2026
“No vendor shall operate or engage in business in the city without a license as provided in Chapter 41 of this code with the exception of those individuals and organizations identified in Section 42.13.”
Solicitors calling at residences or businesses need a license with bond and insurance; no soliciting 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. or on holidays; a posted No Soliciting sign bars knocking.
Sec. 42.11: solicitors 8 a.m.-8 p.m., not on holidays; Sec. 42.12: no knocking where No Soliciting sign posted; no repeat call within 14 days.
Permit
Secs. 42.02-42.06: City Clerk license, standards-based denial, 1,000 dollar bond, 1,000,000 dollar liability insurance, fee by Council schedule; appeal to hearing officer.
Code version
Municode, Cedar Rapids Municipal Code, version Sep 22, 2026 (current); Ch. 42 repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 034-25 (passed June 24, 2025)
“It shall be unlawful for any solicitor, or person making street sales … to engage in any such business within the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa, without first obtaining a license in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.”
Solicitors going dwelling to dwelling selling goods or services, or requesting donations, need a city license with insurance; entering premises posted No Peddlers or No Solicitors is prohibited.
County
Pottawattamie County
Section
Title 3 Ch. 3.62, Secs. 3.62.010, 3.62.020, 3.62.030, 3.62.060, 3.62.080, 3.62.100, 3.62.110; Sec. 2.08.040 (fee schedule)
Hours / signs
Sec. 3.62.100: no entering premises posted "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or similar; no sound devices or loudspeaker advertising before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Permit
Secs. 3.62.010-3.62.060, 3.62.080, 2.08.040: license per individual; insurance certificate; fee 100 dollars for six months, 200 for one year; revocable for cause.
Code version
Council Bluffs Municipal Code, Municipal Code Online viewer (CivicPlus / Municipal Code Corporation); Ch. 3.62 repealed and reenacted by Ord. 6591 (11/13/2023), amended by Ord. 6602 (4/1/2024) and Ord. 6647 (5/19/2025); viewer shows no current-through line
“Any person engaging in peddling, soliciting or in the business of a transient merchant in the City without first obtaining a license as herein provided is in violation of this chapter.”
House-to-house peddlers and solicitors need a Police Chief license; it is valid only between sunrise and sunset. Fees run by duration; listed groups are exempt.
“No person shall engage in transient sales covered by this chapter without first having obtained a transient merchant license as required by this chapter.”
A transient merchant license is required for door-to-door selling; calls are limited to set hours and may not defy a posted no-solicitor notice.
County
Scott County
Section
Ch. 5.17, Sec. 5.17.010(B), 5.17.020, 5.17.030(C)(D)(F)
Hours / signs
Sec. 5.17.030(C): no calls against a posted no-solicitor notice; (D): door to door 9:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturday, none Sunday or holidays
Permit
Transient merchant license required (Sec. 5.17.010(B)); licensee carries and shows it door to door (Sec. 5.17.030(I)); fee not stated in chapter.
Code version
eCode360 DA4058, includes legislation through 07-22-2026
“Any person engaging in peddling, soliciting, or in the business of a transient merchant in the City without first obtaining a license as herein provided is in violation of this chapter.”
House-to-house peddlers and solicitors need a Clerk license, issued once the application is complete; licenses are in force only from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; listed groups are exempt.
“Any person engaging in peddling in this city without first obtaining a license as provided in this article shall be in violation of this article.”
Peddlers selling or taking orders house to house need a clerk license and bond; no peddling 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. or on property posted against peddling or soliciting.
County
Polk County
Section
Ch. 78 Art. II, Secs. 78-26, 78-27, 78-28, 78-29, 78-30, 78-33, 78-34, 78-35(d)-(e); Art. IV reserved
Hours / signs
Sec. 78-35(d): no peddling 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.; Sec. 78-35(e): no business on property posted with a notice prohibiting peddling or soliciting.
Permit
Secs. 78-27 to 78-34: clerk license after police review; cash bond 200 dollars; fee by schedule; one-week, one-month or three-month terms; appeal to hearing officer.
Code version
Municode, Des Moines Municipal Code, version Oct 2, 2026 (current)
“No person may engage in business as a solicitor without first obtaining a license therefor and paying the license fee.”
Anyone offering goods or services or taking orders house to house must hold a bonded City Clerk solicitor license; fee set by the city manager.
County
Dubuque County
Section
Title 4 Ch. 5 Art. A, Secs. 4-5A-1, 4-5A-2, 4-5A-3, 4-5A-4, 4-5A-5, 4-5A-6, 4-5A-9, 4-5A-10; Art. B Sec. 4-5B-2
Permit
Secs. 4-5A-4 to 4-5A-10: Clerk license after police investigation; 5,000 dollar bond; fee set by city manager; denial on good cause, appeal to city manager.
Code version
American Legal, Dubuque, IA Code of Ordinances, 2026 S-20, current through Ord. 11-26, passed 3-16-2026 (Art. A rewritten by Ord. 19-25, 5-19-2025)
“It is unlawful for any peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant … to sell … or offer for sale any goods, wares or merchandise … unless such peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant shall have a valid permit as herein provided …”
House-to-house peddlers and solicitors need a Clerk-issued permit after a police character check; sales 9 a.m.-9 p.m. only; 25 dollars per day plus a bond.
Sec. 122.06(3): permit application states sale dates and times; "No sales will be allowed before 9:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m."
Permit
Secs. 122.06-122.11: Clerk permit after Police Chief investigation of character; 25 dollars per day; 10,000 dollar bond; DCI criminal history; standards in Sec. 122.09.
Code version
American Legal, Grinnell, IA Code of Ordinances, November 2024 supplement, current through Ordinance 1557, passed 10-7-24
“8-5-2: AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION: (Rep. by Ord. 17-4692, 2-7-2017)”
The posted code sets no door-to-door soliciting rule; its former aggressive-solicitation section was repealed in 2017, and Title 5 has no peddler or solicitor chapter. Ask the city clerk.
County
Johnson County
Section
Title 8 Ch. 5, Sec. 8-5-2 (repealed), Sec. 8-5-1; Title 5 (Business and License Regulations) Chs. 1-3
Code version
American Legal, Iowa City, IA Code of Ordinances, 2026 S-26, current through Ord. 26-4985, passed May 19, 2026
“Any person engaging in peddling, soliciting, in the business of a transient merchant or a commercial market promoter in the city without first obtaining a license as herein provided shall be in violation of this chapter.”
A city license is required for peddling, soliciting orders for goods, subscriptions or merchandise, and transient merchant business; annual fee and bond apply; the definition does not name services.
Secs. 3-3-4 to 3-3-7: city clerk issues license on a conforming application; annual fee 105 dollars; 5,000 dollar bond for future-delivery business; non-transferable.
Code version
American Legal, Knoxville, IA Code of Ordinances, 2025 S-13, current through Ord. 25-11, passed 6-16-2025
“Any person engaging in peddling, soliciting or in the business of a transient merchant in the City without first obtaining a license/permit as herein provided is in violation of this chapter.”
House-to-house peddlers and solicitors need a license, issued at once if the application is complete; licenses are in force only 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; fees set by Council resolution.
Sec. 122.10: peddler's and solicitor's licenses are in force only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Permit
Secs. 122.04-122.07: Clerk application five business days ahead; Police Chief issues at once if complete; fee set by Council resolution; state bond for transient merchants.
Code version
American Legal, Manchester, Iowa Code of Ordinances, August 2025 supplement, current through Ordinance 003-2055, passed 7-14-25 (Ch. 122 per Ord. 006-2025)
“Unless otherwise exempted by other provisions of this chapter, any peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant operating within the city without first obtaining a license for such activity as herein provided … commits a simple misdemeanor subject to a fine.”
Peddlers and solicitors going house to house need a City Clerk license, issued after a background check and fee set by Council; licenses allow activity only 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
County
Marshall County
Section
Title XI Ch. 118, Secs. 118.001, 118.002, 118.003, 118.004, 118.007, 118.009, 118.011, 118.013
Hours / signs
Sec. 118.009(A): peddler or solicitor licenses allow activity only between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Permit
Secs. 118.004, 118.007, 118.011, 118.013: Clerk license issued by the day per person; photo ID and DCI check; fee by Council resolution; appeal to Council.
Code version
American Legal, Marshalltown, IA Code of Ordinances, 2026 S-14, current through Ordinance 15121, passed 5-26-2026
“The practice of peddlers/vendors, solicitors, or transient merchants, whether licensed or not … of going in and upon private residences and property without having been requested or invited … is hereby declared to be a nuisance”
Uninvited calls at private residences to solicit orders are declared a nuisance and a simple misdemeanor, whether or not the caller is licensed; the clause names goods, wares and merchandise.
County
Cerro Gordo County
Section
Title 3 Ch. 9, Sec. 3-9-8 (also 3-9-1, 3-9-2, 3-9-4(G), 3-9-10)
Permit
Peddler, solicitor and transient merchant licenses exist (Sec. 3-9-1, 3-9-3 to 3-9-7); the nuisance clause applies whether licensed or not.
Code version
American Legal, 2026 S-16 (current); code current through Ord. 26-10, passed May 5, 2026
“Any person engaging in peddling, soliciting, in the business of a transient merchant … in the city without first obtaining a license as herein provided shall be in violation of this chapter.”
House-to-house peddlers and solicitors need a Clerk license with a background check, issued once the application is complete; set hours apply, no Sunday calls, and posted no-soliciting notices bind.
County
Jasper County
Section
Title XI Ch. 111, Secs. 111.02, 111.03, 111.04, 111.05, 111.08, 111.09, 111.10, 111.13, 111.14(A)(2)
Hours / signs
Sec. 111.13: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, no Sunday; Sec. 111.14(A)(2): no soliciting on property posted against peddling or soliciting.
Permit
Secs. 111.05, 111.08-111.10: Clerk license; photo ID, DCI background check, sales tax permit; issued immediately if complete; fee by resolution; state bond for transient merchants.
Code version
American Legal, Newton, Iowa Code of Ordinances, 2026 S-22, supplement contains local legislation current through 2492, passed 9-10-2026
Read the current code for the exact address (a mailing address can name a different town), check the
date on each row, and ask the town clerk in writing. Our permits guide shows how.
The full dataset for every state is on the national page and as a
CSV.
Not legal advice. KnockFiber is an independent recruiting company, not a law firm. This page quotes municipal codes as we read them on the date shown; codes change, and a clerk or a lawyer decides how a rule applies to you. Before you knock, read the current code and ask the town clerk, in writing. Found an error or a newer ordinance? Email recruiting@knockfiber.com and we will re-read the code and log the change.
