Soliciting & Door-to-Door in Boston, MA

If you live in Boston or are thinking about moving there, soliciting & door-to-door are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Boston has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of soliciting & door-to-door, and some of them might surprise you.

Solicitor Permits

Anyone peddling goods, wares or merchandise in Boston without a fixed store must get a City Clerk license as a transient vendor before making any sales. The applicant files a sworn statement of stock value, posts a $500 bond, and must display the license at the point of sale.

Key details: License issuer: Boston City Clerk. Bond required: $500 with two sureties. License expires: No later than Jan. 1 following issuance. Fine for unlicensed sales: $20 per day. Display duty: License shown at place of business.

Engaging in the transient-vendor business without first securing the local license is a misdemeanor. Conviction carries a fine of $20 for each day the goods, wares or merchandise are kept or exposed for sale without a license. The same $20-per-day fine applies to a vendor who neglects or refuses to file the required sworn stock statement, files a false or fraudulent statement, or, having been licensed, later fails to pay the sum required under the section.

No-Knock Registry

Boston residents may post no-soliciting signs to prevent unwanted commercial solicitation. Licensed solicitors are expected to respect these signs. Violating a no-soliciting request by continuing to solicit can constitute trespassing. There is no citywide no-knock registry, but residents can report persistent violators to BPD.

Key details: No-Knock Registry: None: use posted signs. Sign Effect: Solicitors must respect or face trespass. Trespass Law: MGL c.266 §120. Report To: 311 or BPD. First Amendment: Political/religious have broader access.

Ignoring a no-soliciting sign and refusing to leave constitutes criminal trespass under MGL c.266 §120, punishable by a fine up to $100 or imprisonment up to 30 days. Aggressive solicitation may result in harassment charges. Licensed solicitors who repeatedly ignore no-soliciting signs may face license revocation.

The Bottom Line

Boston's soliciting & door-to-door rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Boston is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Boston's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.