Doing Business 

Peddlers License

The City of Port Wentworth is authorized to issue a peddlers license to those who wish to engage in the business of peddling goods, ware, merchandise, soliciting orders for goods or services, or for the offering of services for repair or improvement of real property. 

  • Peddlers Defined 

    The word "peddler" is any individual, whether a resident of this City or not, traveling by foot, wagon, automobile, motor truck or any other type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to house, or from street to street:

    • Selling, offering for sale or taking or attempting to take orders for the sale of goods, wares and merchandise, personal property of any nature whatsoever for future delivery;
    • for services to be furnished or performed in the future, whether or not such individual has, carries or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of such sale or not;
    • or whether he/she is collecting advance payments on such sales or not;
    • provided that such definition shall include any person who, for himself, or for another person, hires, leases, uses, or occupies any building, structure, tent, railroad boxcar, boat, hotel room, lodging house, apartment, shop or any other place within this city for the sole purpose of exhibiting samples and taking orders for future delivery.
    The word "peddler" shall include the term "canvasser," "solicitor," "transient or itinerant merchant or vendor" or "transient or itinerant photographer."

  • Pre-requisite 

    No permit will be issued unless the applicant has first obtained the required city business license.

  • At the time of filing the peddlers application, a fee of six dollars ($6.00) must be paid to cover the cost of investigation of the facts stated therein. The applicant must also pay all fees associated with the occupational tax registration. Click here to learn more. 

    At the time of filing, the applicant shall also present his/her driver's license or other form of government issued identification.  

  • Background Check 

    Upon receipt of an application for a permit, the applicant will be referred to the Director of Public Safety, who shall cause such investigation of the applicant's business and moral character to be made as he deems necessary for the protection of the public good. The Director of Public Safety shall complete his investigation within one (1) week of receiving the application.

    At the time of filing, the applicant shall also submit to fingerprinting by the Director of Public Safety or his delegate.

    If, as a result of investigation, the character and business responsibility of the applicant are found to be satisfactory, the Director of Public Safety shall endorse on the application his approval, execute a permit addressed to the applicant for the carrying on of the business applied for and return the permit along with the application to the city clerk, who shall, upon payment of the required fee, deliver the permit to the applicant.

    If, as a result of investigation, the applicant's character or business responsibility is found to be unsatisfactory, the Director of Public Safety shall endorse on the application his disapproval and his reasons for the same, and return the application to the city clerk, who shall notify the applicant that his application is disapproved and that no permit shall be issued.

  • Filing Procedures 

    Applicants for a permit must file a sworn application in writing, in duplicate, on a form giving the following information:

    • The name and a description of the applicant;
    • The permanent home address and full local address of the applicant;
    • A brief description of the nature of the business and the goods to be sold;
    • If employed, the name and address of the employer, together with credentials establishing the exact relationship;
    • The length of time for which the right to do business is desired;
    • The place where the goods or property proposed to be sold, or orders taken for the sale thereof, are manufactured or produced, where such goods or products are located at the time the application is filed and the proposed method of delivery;
    • A photograph of the applicant, taken within sixty (60) days immediately prior to the date of filing of the application, which picture shall be two (2) inches by two (2) inches showing the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear and distinguishing manner;
    • A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor;
    • Whether the applicant, upon any sale or order, shall demand, accept or receive payment or deposit of money in advance of final delivery;
    • The last five (5) municipalities wherein the applicant has worked before coming to this City; and
    • Such other relevant information as may be required by the investigation of the applicant.

  • Bond

    Every applicant, not a resident of the City, or who is a resident of the City and represents a firm whose principal place of business is located outside the state, shall file a surety bond running to the City in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), with surety acceptable to and approved by the Mayor, conditioned that the applicant shall comply fully with all the applicable provisions of this Code, the ordinances of the City and state law regulating and concerning the business of peddling and guaranteeing to any citizen of the City that all money paid as a down payment will be accounted for and applied according to the representations of the peddler, and further guaranteeing to any citizen of the City doing business with such peddler that the property purchased will be delivered according to the representations of such peddler. Action on such bond may be brought in the name of the City to the use or benefit of the aggrieved person.
    If the applicant is an agent, employee, canvasser or solicitor of a corporation authorized to do business in this state or registered under the fictitious name act of the state, such corporation or fictitious name business may furnish one (1) bond in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for any and all of its agents, employees, canvassers or solicitors.
    Before any permit is issued, there shall also be filed an instrument in writing, signed by the applicant under oath, nominating and appointing the city clerk his true and lawful agent, with full power and authority to acknowledge service of notice of process for and on the behalf of such applicant; and service of summons in any action brought upon the applicant's bond shall be deemed made when served on the city clerk.

  • Duration 

    Every permit issued shall be valid for the period of time stated therein, but in no event shall any such permit be issued for a period of time in excess of twelve (12) months.

  • Display 

    Every peddler having a permit issued and doing business within the City shall display his permit upon the request of any person, and failure to do so shall be a violation of the Code of Ordinances for Peddlers. 

  • False Information 

    It shall be unlawful for any person to give any false or misleading information in connection with his application for a permit required by this article.

  • Exceptions 

    Peddlers License does not apply to the following: 

    • Sales made to dealers or permanent merchants by commercial travelers selling in the usual course of business;
    • Sheriffs, constables, bona fide assignees, receivers or trustees in bankruptcy or other public officers selling goods, wares and merchandise according to law;
    • Bona fide residents of the state selling fruits, vegetables, dressed meats, fowl or farm products which were produced on land within the state, owned or controlled by such vendor;
    • Solicitations, sales or distributions made by charitable, educational or religious organizations which have their principal place of activity within this city.
Your first contact regarding a Peddlers License should be with the Occupational Tax Registrant. Please call 912-964-4379, for more information.   
Documents and Forms 

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