Framingham, Massachusetts: door-to-door solicitor permit

Partly read: the permit answer is sourced, but the fee or the hours could not be read from the city’s own pages. The clerk questions below cover the gap.

• The answer: Yes — a license to go door to door for any commercial selling purpose or canvassing, worn on the outer garment where every prospective customer can see it (Art. VIII, 4.2). Anyone selling by sample, lists, catalogues or otherwise for future delivery must also record a name and residence with the city before doing business (Art. VIII, 4.4).
• Where it comes from: The Framingham Police Department. The ordinance names the Board of License Commissioners, but City Council Order No. 2018-077 moved approval of Solicitor Licenses to the police, and the city's fee table lists the Police Department as the licensing authority with no hearing. The Licensing page links the OpenGov application.
• Fee: Solicitor: $15 per individual to apply, then $10 a day (max. 5 days), $125 for 6 months, or $250 annual, per the city's fee table. The table labels the $250 line "All/Company".
• Hours you may knock: Article VIII, Section 4 sets no knocking hours. We could not read the full city code on eCode360 to check other chapters.
• What the rep carries: The license, fixed in a prominent place on the outer garment while working (Art. VIII, 4.2), and a badge worn conspicuously (Art. VIII, 4.6). The city's hawker page says a license is not valid until the Police Department issues a photo ID.
• What takes the time: A written application under oath, and the police photograph and fingerprint the applicant (Art. VIII, 4.2). The city's hawker and peddler page says approval may take several weeks; it does not give a time for solicitor licenses.
• Code: Framingham General Ordinances, Article VIII — Business and Commerce Provisions, Section 4 — Transient Vendors, Hawkers & Peddlers (4.1 to 4.11), as posted by the city (PDF dated December 2023). The codified City Code is on eCode360, which blocked us, so no currency statement was read.
• Worth knowing: Each violation of Section 4 carries a fine of up to three hundred dollars (Art. VIII, 4.11). Nonprofit groups organized under M.G.L. Ch. 180, s. 2 are exempt from the license (Art. VIII, 4.2(b)).
• Read it yourself: Framingham General Ordinances, Article VIII — Business and Commerce Provisions (PDF) · City of Framingham — Fees, licensing authority & hearing requirements · City of Framingham — Hawkers and Peddlers Licenses · Framingham City Council Order No. 2018-077 (PDF) · City of Framingham — Licensing · checked 23 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• What hours door-to-door sales are allowed, and the code section
• Whether the $250 annual license covers a whole company's reps or each rep needs their own
• How long the police take to approve a solicitor license and issue the photo ID
• Whether a rep also needs a Massachusetts state license if no cash is collected

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________