Last checked: November 6, 2026. Confidence: high.
This is not legal advice. It is a plain-English summary of public city rules. Codes change, posted code text can lag new ordinances, and some rules have been challenged in court. Confirm with the permit office linked below before your team hits the street.
- Distributing commercial handbills on sidewalks, in public places or door to door needs a handbill license from Licenses and Inspections (L&I) (Code 10-723). If the distribution company holds it, individual team members and the brand do not each need one.
- Hand only to people willing to take one. No flyers on windshields. Nothing on private properties whose owners told L&I they do not want them (10-723.2).
- At the end of each day, clear discarded flyers within 100 feet, and identify the distributor if enforcement staff ask (10-723.1).
- Events that use city property, equipment or services need an Office of Special Events permit, at least 90 days ahead for standard processing.
Verifywhether a sampling team with no setup and no city services needs a special event permit; amplified sound.
Official sources
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Contact us Book a callNot legal advice. Summaries of public city rules as of the dates shown. Always confirm with the city permit office and your own counsel.