Brockton, Massachusetts: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — registration with the chief of police and a registration certificate, per rep. It is unlawful to canvass or solicit residents or businesses without the occupant's previous consent unless first registered (11-107). The definition covers taking orders for the retail sale of goods, services, home improvements, or services to be performed in the future, for yourself or for a company (11-96).
• Where it comes from: Applications come from the office of the city clerk; the chief of police, or a designated officer, approves in writing; and no certificate issues without the approval of the city council (11-108, 11-109(c)).
• Fee: An application fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per application, paid at the Brockton Police Department, then three hundred sixty dollars ($360.00) per canvasser annually, paid at the office of the city clerk. Both fees are "based on individual use per person" (11-108).
• Hours you may knock: The article sets no start or stop time. It sets a condition instead: anyone who intends to solicit or canvass after the hour of 6:00 p.m. must, on every such day, tell the office of the chief of police which streets or neighborhood will be worked (11-109(a)).
• What the rep carries: The registration certificate, which bears the rep's photograph and the dates covered, carried on the person and shown to a police officer or to anyone solicited (11-109(a), (b)).
• What takes the time: Three sign-offs in a row: police review for "evidence of good character," a written finding sent to the city clerk, and then the city council's consideration (11-109(c)). No processing time is published.
• Code: Revised Ordinances of the City of Brockton, Chapter 11, Article VI — Solicitors and Canvassers (11-96 to 11-111). Municode shows the code as codified through Ordinance No. 07-31-2025(2), approved July 31, 2025 (Supp. No. 28).
• Worth knowing: The registrant gives full identification, a signature, the employer's name, the product or service and its manufacturer, and the method of operation in the city (11-107). The city council or the chief of police may revoke a registration for any violation of the article or of any other city, state or federal law (11-110). Failure to register calls for up to a three hundred dollar fine (11-111).
• Read it yourself: Brockton Revised Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article VI — Solicitors and Canvassers · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• How long police review plus city council approval takes, and how often the council takes these up
• Whether any start or stop time for knocking is enforced beyond the after-6:00 p.m. notice
• Whether the annual fee runs from the issue date or the calendar year

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________