New Bedford, Massachusetts: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a door to door sales license, one per person, from the city clerk. No person may engage in door to door sales without it, and "door to door sales" means soliciting the sale of goods or services for future delivery by entering a residential property without a prior invitation (15-52.1(a), (b)). The clerk may license any person 18 or over deemed suitable after a CORI check review (15-52.1(b)).
• Where it comes from: The city clerk issues it and may revoke it (15-52.1(b), (d)). A rep who carries goods and sells them on the spot is a hawker or peddler instead: that takes a state license from the Commonwealth's Director of Standards, with a copy filed with the city clerk before working (15-52(a), (d)).
• Fee: $50.00 per year per licensee. The license is good for one year from the date of issuance and is renewed annually (15-52.1(d), (e)).
• Hours you may knock: The door-to-door sales section sets no knocking hours (15-52.1). The only clock times in the neighboring peddler section are for late-night food vendors at a fixed downtown spot, not for knocking doors (15-52(h)).
• What the rep carries: The license itself, which shows the issue date, expiration date, name, address and a photo. It must be in the rep's possession any time door to door sales is being conducted and be visible during any point of contact with the public (15-52.1(c)).
• What takes the time: The CORI check review the clerk does before granting the license, and the photo that goes on it (15-52.1(b), (c)). The code gives no processing time.
• Code: New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 15-52.1, Door-to-door sales (Ord. of 6-10-16; Ord. of 10-27-16), and Sec. 15-52, Restrictions governing hawkers and peddlers. Municode shows the code as codified through Ordinance of August 21, 2025 (Supp. No. 19).
• Worth knowing: Working without the license, or breaking the section, is a fine of $100.00 for each violation, and a licensed rep can also lose the license (15-52.1(f)). The section exempts people soliciting for charitable purposes (15-52.1(g)). It has no "No Soliciting" sign rule and no registry.
• Read it yourself: New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 15-52.1, Door-to-door sales · New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 15-52, Restrictions governing hawkers and peddlers · New Bedford Code of Ordinances, title page · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• What knocking hours, if any, does the city enforce for licensed door to door sales?
• How long does the CORI check review take, and does each rep apply in person?
• Does the rep bring a photo or is it taken at the clerk's office?

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________