Yonkers's Soliciting & Door-to-Door: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles soliciting & door-to-door a little differently. In Yonkers, New York, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Solicitor Permits

Anyone acting as a hawker, peddler or solicitor in Yonkers must first obtain a license from the Director of the Office of Licensing. The annual solicitor's license costs $19.50 (rising 5% a year), and licenses cannot be transferred or lent to another person.

Key details: Annual solicitor license fee: $19.50, +5% yearly. Lost license replacement fee: $12. Reapplication wait after denial/revocation: 6 months. Vehicle signage lettering: At least 2 inches tall. Licensing authority: Director, Office of Licensing.

Operating as a hawker, peddler or solicitor without a license, or using/lending a license issued to someone else, is a Class II offense under § 20-36A, and each unlicensed sale or offering for sale is chargeable as a separate offense with no daily cap. A refused or revoked license bars reapplication for at least six months absent a change in circumstances.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Yonkers actively enforces its solicitor permits requirements.

No-Knock Registry

Home solicitors in Yonkers may only knock or ring a doorbell between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., never on Sundays or major holidays, and must skip any residence displaying a posted "no solicitation" card at least 12 square inches in size.

Key details: Solicitation hours: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Barred days: Sundays and 5 major holidays. No-solicitation card size: At least 12 sq. in.. Card lettering: At least 2/3 inch tall. Penalty class: Class II offense.

Knocking or ringing outside the 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. window, ignoring a posted no-solicitation card, or refusing to leave when asked are violations of Article IV of Chapter 20, a Class II offense under § 20-36A; tampering with another resident's posted card is also a violation reserved to the occupant alone.

The Bottom Line

Yonkers'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 Yonkers is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Yonkers can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.