Manchester, New Hampshire: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a peddler's license from the City Clerk. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of a peddler in the city without first securing one (115.40(A)). The code's "peddler" is broad: it covers anyone traveling from house to house offering goods for sale, and it expressly includes one who while traveling from place to place solicits orders and as a separate transaction makes deliveries to purchasers, and one who travels place to place soliciting contracts for household repairs or improvements (115.01). It expressly does not include people who are on residential premises at the prior invitation of the owner or legal occupant, or direct sellers as defined by Sec. 3508 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (115.01). That last carve-out is the first thing to settle with the Clerk.
• Where it comes from: The Office of the City Clerk, on a form the Clerk determines (115.40(B)). An applicant who is denied, or who expects to be, may ask the Committee on Administration of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to review the application (115.40(C)(3)).
• Fee: $150 with an application for an annual license, or $25 with an application for a temporary license — cash, money order or bank check, and the fee for the initial license is the application fee (115.41). The business license schedule says the same thing: peddlers licensed under 115.40 through 115.44 pay an annual business license fee of $150, or $25 for a temporary license (110.20(C)(4)). Fees go in with the application and are nonrefundable (115.02).
• Hours you may knock: The only clock the peddler subchapter sets is in the prohibited conduct section: a peddler shall not operate at any time other than the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., unless the work is part of a special permitted activity or the license itself says otherwise (115.44(Q)). Most of that section is written for stands and vehicles, and the application asks the applicant to state hours of operation (115.40(B)(10)), so the license the Clerk writes can be narrower than the ordinance. Read the hours off the face of the license before a crew knocks.
• What the rep carries: The license itself, conspicuously displayed (115.40(A)). Operating without properly displaying the peddler's license is prohibited conduct (115.44(U)). The code names no separate city badge.
• What takes the time: A complete certified criminal record from the Criminal Records Division of the New Hampshire State Police, or from the appropriate out-of-state agency for anyone who has not been a New Hampshire resident for the five years before the application (115.40(B)(3)). Two recent passport photographs (115.40(B)(2)). A certificate of insurance protecting the licensee and the city, with combined primary and excess coverage meeting a $500,000 minimum limit and 30 days' advance written notice before the policy ends (115.40(B)(7)). Proof of a state hawker, peddler or itinerant vendor license where applicable (115.40(B)(12)). A disqualifying criminal conviction in the five years before the application — any felony, or any conviction involving harassment, violence, theft, fraud, loitering, prowling, or endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent — means denial (115.01, 115.40(C)(1)).
• Code: Manchester Code of Ordinances Chapter 115, Solicitations, Sales, Peddlers, and Fairs, Peddlers subchapter (115.40 to 115.46), with the fee repeated at 110.20, Business License Fees. American Legal Publishing states the supplement contains local legislation current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025.
• Worth knowing: The annual license expires April 30 every year, whatever month it was bought in, so a license bought in March is short (115.40(A)). The Clerk may also issue a temporary license, following the same procedure as the annual one (115.40(A)). Chapter 115's charitable subchapter (115.10) is for tag days and charitable fundraising, not commercial sales. The peddler exemptions cover sales to dealers by commercial travelers or selling agents, and qualifying nonprofits (115.42). A peddler may not solicit or conduct business with people in motor vehicles (115.44(K)), and there are distance limits around schools, hospitals and public assemblies (115.44(B) through (D)). The code sets no city no-knock registry and names no "No Soliciting" sign rule.
• Read it yourself: Manchester Code of Ordinances Chapter 115 — Solicitations, Sales, Peddlers, and Fairs · Manchester Code § 115.01 Definitions · Manchester Code § 115.40 License required; application · Manchester Code § 115.41 Application and license fee · Manchester Code § 115.42 Exemptions · Manchester Code § 115.44 Prohibited conduct · Manchester Code § 110.20 Business license fees · Manchester, NH Laws — code overview · checked 20 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Does the Clerk treat a fiber, solar or security rep taking orders at the door as a peddler, or as an excluded direct seller under Sec. 3508?
• Is the $150 annual license bought once per company or once per rep?
• What hours of operation does the Clerk write on a door-to-door peddler's license?

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________