Solicitor/Transient Merchant License
Solicitor's License Process
In order to get a solicitor license you will need to:
- Review the Solicitor's ordinance.
- Application must include all necessary documentation as stated in the ordinance. Below is a list of the most common documents needed. Additional documents may be required.
- You will need to include 2 photographs that are 2 inches by 2 inches, showing the head and shoulders, taken within the last 60 days.
- A valid form of government issued picture ID.
- Certificate of Liability Insurance
- $100,000 - personal injury 1 person.
- $300,000 - personal injury to 2+ persons
- $100,000 - property damage
- Tippecanoe County Health Department permit if applicant will be using, handling, selling or distributing food.
- Submit a completed application.
- You can mail the application along with the $200 fee in the form of a check or money order, made out to the City of Lafayette, to the Lafayette Police Records Division located at:
601 Columbia Street
Lafayette, IN 47901 - You can also submit the application in person and pay with a credit card, check, or money order at the Lafayette Police Records Division.
- You can mail the application along with the $200 fee in the form of a check or money order, made out to the City of Lafayette, to the Lafayette Police Records Division located at:
- Upon successful review, you will be contacted that a permit has been issued and is available for pick up in the Controller's Office located at:
20 N 6th Street
2nd floor
Lafayette, IN 47901
Your permit must be on your person whenever you are soliciting here in City of Lafayette.
Transient Merchant's License Process
Transient Merchant's License Steps
- Review the Transient Merchant's ordinance.
- Application must include all necessary documentation as stated in the ordinance. Below is a list of the most common documents needed. Additional documents may be required.
- Indiana State Retailer License Number if applicable.
- Written permission from the property owner.
- You will need to include 2 photographs that are 2 inches by 2 inches, showing the head and shoulders, taken within the last 60 days.
- A valid form of government issued picture ID.
- Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City of Lafayette as co-insured with the following minimum coverage.
- $100,000 - personal injury 1 person.
- $300,000 - personal injury to 2+ persons
- $25,000 - property damage per occurrence
- $50,000 - property damage in the aggregate.
- Indiana Homeland Security Fireworks permit if the applicant will be using, handling, selling or distributing fireworks.
- Submit a completed application.
- You can mail the application along with the $200 fee in the form of a check or money order, made out to the City of Lafayette, to the Lafayette Police Records Division located at:
601 Columbia Street
Lafayette, IN 47901 - You can also submit the application in person and pay with a credit card, check, or money order at the Lafayette Police Records Division.
- You can mail the application along with the $200 fee in the form of a check or money order, made out to the City of Lafayette, to the Lafayette Police Records Division located at:
- Upon successful review, you will be contacted that a permit has been issued and is available for pick up in the Controller's Office located at:
20 N 6th Street
2nd floor
Lafayette, IN 47901
Your permit must be displayed prominently.
Food Trucks
City of Lafayette will no longer require food trucks to obtain a transient merchant license effective immediately.
Under the plain meaning of "Transient Merchant" in Lafayette Municipal Code § 4.16.010, food trucks are included. Historically, food trucks have been required to obtain a transient merchant license to comply with Chapter 4.16 of the Lafayette Municipal Code.
The Indiana General Assembly recently amended state law to consolidate licensing and permitting authority for food trucks under local health departments, effective in 2027. See Ind. Code § 16-42-28. While local health departments are already responsible for enforcing food safety standards, the amendment further prohibits municipalities from requiring food trucks to obtain a separate local permit.
Although this legislation does not take effect until 2027, mobile food trucks are currently regulated by the local health department for food safety compliance. To streamline the permitting process and eliminate redundancy, the City of Lafayette will no longer require food trucks to obtain a transient merchant license effective immediately.
For questions please contact the City of Lafayette Controller's Office at 765-807-1016.