Whitfield County adopts permit fee and enforcement for door-to-door solicitors

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a countywide ordinance Nov. 10 to regulate door-to-door solicitation in unincorporated areas, setting a $40 permit for a two-week period (with one allowed renewal) and a proposed start date of Jan. 1, 2026.

The measure was presented at the board’s second reading as a response to requests from residents and to allow county staff to receive complaints and identify permit holders. Chair said the sheriff’s office reviewed the ordinance and indicated it was willing to enforce violations. "If somebody's doing it without a permit, yeah, he would enforce that," the chair said during discussion.

Commissioner Staton moved to approve the ordinance with the $40 fee and the Jan. 1, 2026 implementation date; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Jones and passed on a 4-0 vote. The ordinance allows the county to revoke permits when complaints are substantiated; the board also discussed that a permit can be renewed once for an additional two-week period.

Why it matters: supporters said the permit process gives residents a way to report aggressive or unauthorized solicitation and provides a mechanism for the county to identify and pull permits when conduct is inappropriate. The sheriff’s office will serve as the enforcement authority for complaints under the new rule.

What’s next: county staff will prepare forms and processes so the clerk can accept permit requests and collect the fee. The ordinance is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, if the board’s implementation timeline is followed.