CANVASSERS OF PERIODICALS

SJ-MC tit. 6, ch. 6.20

in effect

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.010 Permit - Required - Exception.

6.20.010 - Permit - Required - Exception. No person over fourteen years of age shall go upon any public street in the city, or from house to house, for the purpose of selling, or canvassing, soliciting or procuring subscriptions for periodicals, books or other publications, without first obtaining a permit therefor as is provided in this chapter. (Prior code § 6211.1.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.020 Exceptions to chapter applicability.

6.20.020 - Exceptions to chapter applicability. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to selling, canvassing, soliciting or procuring subscriptions for any newspaper or any publication of religious nature. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons eighteen years of age or under who are members of a student group selling, canvassing, soliciting or procuring subscriptions in connection with the activities of said student group, provided that said selling, canvassing, soliciting or procuring by said student group is authorized by the school principal, dean or faculty advisor. (Prior code § 6211.1; Ord. 21682.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.030 Permit - Application - Information required.

6.20.030 - Permit - Application - Information required. Applicants for a permit under this chapter must file with the chief of police a written application in duplicate, on a form to be furnished by the police department, which shall give the following information: A. Full name and description of the applicant; B. The applicant's address, permanent and local; C. The name and address of the publisher and distributor of the publication, or the duly authorized agent of such publisher or distributor; D. Satisfactory evidence of the applicant's authority to act on behalf of the publisher, distributor or its duly authorized agent; E. The length of time for which the right to engage in selling, canvassing or soliciting is desired; F. If a vehicle is to be used, a description of the same, together with its license number or other means of identification; G. Two photographs of the applicant taken within sixty days immediately prior to the date of the filing of the application, which pictures shall be approximately two inches by two inches, showing the head and shoulders in a clear and distinct manner; H. Fingerprints of the applicant. (Prior code § 6211.3.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.040 Permit - Application - Investigation and issuance conditions.

6.20.040 - Permit - Application - Investigation and issuance conditions. A. Upon receipt of such application the chief of police shall have two weeks in which to conduct such investigation of the applicant's business and moral character as he shall deem necessary for the protection of the public safety and welfare. B. If as a result of such investigation the applicant's moral character or business reputation is found to be unsatisfactory, the chief of police shall endorse on the application his disapproval and the reasons for same, and shall notify the applicant at the end of the two-week period that his application is disapproved and that no permit will be issued. C. If, as a result of such investigation, the moral character and business reputation of the applicant are found to be satisfactory, the chief of police shall endorse on the application his approval thereof and shall cause the applicant to be issued a permit. All such permits shall be limited to a period of six months from the date of issuance thereof. (Prior code § 6211.4.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.050 Permit - Fee.

6.20.050 - Permit - Fee. Every person issued a permit under this chapter shall pay a permit fee as set forth in the schedule of fees established by resolution of the city council, said fee to defray the costs of processing applications. (Prior code § 6211.5; Ord. 21285.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.060 Appeal from denial of permit.

6.20.060 - Appeal from denial of permit. An applicant whose application has been denied by the chief of police shall have the right, within ten days thereafter, to appeal such decision in writing, stating the grounds therefor, to the code enforcement appeals commission. Said commission shall hold a hearing thereon within a reasonable time from and after the date of such appeal, and the decision of said commission thereon shall be final. (Prior code § 6211.6; Ord. 20879.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.20.070 Permit - Suspension and revocation conditions.

6.20.070 - Permit - Suspension and revocation conditions. Sections 6.02.170 to 6.02.190, inclusive, of this Code, shall be applicable to this chapter. (Prior code § 6211.7.)

Source: City of San José, Municipal Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BULIRE_CH6.20CAPEFetched: 11/1/2026