Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: The code declares it a nuisance for solicitors, peddlers or transient vendors to go onto private residences, without being requested or invited by the owners or occupants, to solicit orders for the sale of goods, wares and merchandise (311.01). Farm produce and religious or political materials are excepted (311.02). Separately, peddlers and solicitors of goods, wares or merchandise must hold a business license or permit from the City Treasurer (303.01(a)(5)). Article 311 does not mention services. Confirm with the City Clerk before knocking.
• Where it comes from: The license fee is paid to the City Treasurer (303.01(a)). The city's ordinance page directs questions about an ordinance's status to the City Clerk's office.
• Fee: $10.00 per day for peddlers and solicitors of goods, wares, or merchandise (303.01(a)(5)). The code does not say whether that is per person or per company.
• Hours you may knock: The code sets no knocking hours. Article 311 makes uninvited soliciting of orders for goods at private residences a nuisance, with no time window (311.01).
• What the rep carries: Articles 303 and 311 set no rule on carrying or showing the license.
• What takes the time: No application steps, background check or processing time are published in Articles 303 or 311.
• Code: Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem, Article 311 — Peddlers and Solicitors (311.01, 311.02, 311.99) and Article 303 — General Business Licenses and Permits (303.01), posted as PDFs on the city's ordinance page. The PDFs carry no currency date; the page says there may be a short delay between a council change and its posting.
• Worth knowing: Penalties under Article 311: a fine of $100.00 for a first violation, $300.00 for a second, and $600.00 for a third and each later one, each with possible jail time (311.99).
• Read it yourself: Bethlehem Codified Ordinances, Article 311 — Peddlers and Solicitors (PDF) · Bethlehem Codified Ordinances, Article 303 — General Business Licenses and Permits (PDF) · City of Bethlehem — City Ordinances (alphabetical index) · checked 22 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Is Article 311 (uninvited soliciting declared a nuisance) enforced against licensed reps, and does it cover reps selling services rather than goods?
• Is the $10.00 per day license per rep or per company, and how is it applied for?
• Is there any written knocking-hours rule outside Articles 303 and 311?

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________