The City of Oak Creek licenses Transient Merchants for door-to-door sales. Each approved Salesperson is issued a Transient Merchant Photo ID Badge, listing their name, business, and approval date/expiration. It is your right to ask to see this badge.

Click here for a listing of APPROVED TRANSIENT MERCHANTS.

Any individual who engages in retail sale of merchandise at any place (or door-to-door) in the City of Oak Creek temporarily, and who does not intend to become and does not become a permanent merchant. A Transient Merchant license is issued by the City of Oak Creek and is only valid within the City of Oak Creek.

Exemptions:

Exemptions, listed in Section 7.142 of our Municipal Code, include, but are not limited to the following (see section 7.142 for a full listing):

• Businesses or persons soliciting on behalf of an established City of Oak Creek brick & mortar place of business, providing that they have conducted business in Oak Creek for at least ONE YEAR and have notified the City Clerk’s office of canvassing.
• Any resident farmer selling produce or other perishable products at retail or wholesale.
• Buyers initiating a home visit for purpose of sales.
• Persons delivering newspapers, fuel, dairy products, or bakery goods to regular  customers on established routes.
• Charitable organizations who engage in direct sales for, or on behalf of, said organization, provided that they have submitted to the City Clerk’s office proof that such organization is registered under Sec. 202.11, Wis. Stats. 
  

REQUIREMENTS

• Any business who wishes to conduct door-to-door sales in the City of Oak Creek must submit a Company application as well as a Seller Application for each salesperson canvassing.  (Additional Sellers may be added, as needed.)
• Sellers must apply in person with a valid Photo ID.  Badge photos will be taken at this time.
• A criminal background check will be conducted on all Sellers.  Sellers must disclose all convictions on application.  Failure to disclose a conviction may be grounds for denial.

TRAVELING SALES CREWS (solicitors absent from their permanent place of residence).

A traveling sales crew is 2 or more individuals employed as salesperson or in related support work, who travel together in a group and who are absent from their permanent place of residence for the purpose of selling consumer goods or services to consumers from house to house, on any street, or in any other place that is open to the public.

Traveling sales crews must register with the Department of Workforce Development before applying for a Transient Merchant license with the City of Oak Creek.

For more information on how to register with the Department of Workforce Development, you can call them directly at 608-267-4592.  https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/laborstandards/travelingsales.htm

FEES

Company:  $35/day or $375/calendar year

If choosing daily fee, the max paid by applicant is $375/calendar year.

Seller:  $100

** Cash or Check only **

APPROVAL PROCESS

• If the criminal background check is favorable, your license will be presented to the Common Council at their next scheduled meeting for formal action.
• If the criminal background check is not favorable, your application will be reviewed by the City Attorney.  The City Attorney will provide a legal review to present to the License Committee.  A License Committee meeting will be scheduled.  The License Committee will review the application, background check and the City Attorney’s legal review and a recommendation will be made.  The application will then be presented to the Common Council at their next scheduled meeting for formal action.
• If the council grants a license, a badge will be prepared and the applicant will be contacted for pick-up the day after approval.

APPLICATION FORMS

• Transient Merchant License – Company Application 
• Transient Merchant License – Sellers Application

QUESTIONS?

Contact the City Clerk’s office at 414-766-7000.