Do you need a permit or licence for door to door sales?

Which permission applies to which activity

What a pedlar's certificate is — and isn't

A pedlar's certificate is issued by the police to someone who travels on foot from place to place selling goods they carry with them. It is a genuine credential with a narrow purpose, and it does not act as a general permit to knock on doors or to trade from a fixed pitch.

This matters because certificates are sometimes shown at the door by sellers to imply official approval. If you run a campaign, do not let advisors present anything that suggests council or government endorsement you do not have.

Charity and fundraising house-to-house collections

Collecting money or goods door to door for charity is licensed. In England and Wales the local authority issues a house to house collection licence; Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own permission regimes. Fundraisers must carry the appropriate authority and identification while collecting.

What you should hold on file for every advisor

Licensing is only part of it. Whether or not a permit applies, clients and councils will expect an operator to evidence who was working, on whose behalf and with what training.

• Photo ID badge showing the advisor's name and the brand or agency they represent
• Right to work check and a signed contract or self-employment agreement
• Recorded compliance and vulnerable-customer training, with dates
• The territory allocation showing they were authorised to work that patch that day
• Any campaign-specific accreditation the client brand requires

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to sell door to door in the UK?

For most commercial door to door selling of services and contracts, no licence is required. Licensing applies to street trading from a pitch, peddling goods carried by a travelling seller, and house-to-house collections for charity.

What is a pedlar's certificate?

A pedlar's certificate is issued by the police to a person who travels on foot selling goods they carry with them. It is not a general permit for doorstep selling or for trading from a fixed street pitch.

Do charity fundraisers need a permit to knock on doors?

Yes. House-to-house collections for charity are licensed, generally by the local authority, and collectors must carry the relevant authority and identification.

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