Soliciting & Door-to-Door
Solicitor permits, no-knock registries, and door-to-door sales regulations.
A city cannot ban knocking on doors. The First Amendment protects canvassing, and it treats religious and political callers differently from commercial sellers, which is why well-drafted ordinances license only the commercial kind. Permits with background checks, identification requirements, and evening cut-off hours are the standard package.
The no-knock registry is the interesting recent development: residents list their address, and soliciting there becomes a violation regardless of any permit. It converts a homeowner's sign from a request into an enforceable line.
All 50 States: Soliciting & Door-to-Door at the State Level
Each tile shows the strongest state-level rule for that state. Click a state to see its full statewide rules and how local cities are constrained.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
What's Covered
Solicitor Permits
Permits required for door-to-door salespeople and canvassers, including background check requirements and permitted hours of operation.
No-Knock Registry
Programs that let homeowners register to opt out of door-to-door solicitation, and the penalties for solicitors who ignore the list.