Bristol, PA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)

Section 13-307 of the Bristol Borough Code gives residents two ways to shut out door-to-door callers. The first is a sign: residents can post or display a "No Soliciting/Peddling/Canvassing" or similar sign, not to exceed 80 square inches, on the front door of the dwelling. Once the sign is up, it is a violation for any peddler, solicitor or canvasser to go onto that property. The size cap is printed in the code, so an oversized notice does not carry the same weight as one within the limit.

The second is a list. The Chief of Police maintains the addresses of Borough residents who have notified the Chief in writing that they do not want peddlers or solicitors on their property. A copy of the No Soliciting/Peddling List is provided with, and as part of, every identification card issued to a registered solicitor, so every legitimate caller holds the current addresses to avoid. Entering a listed property is a violation even when no sign is posted.

The no-knock rules sit beside the hours in section 13-304, which restrict all residential door-to-door peddling, soliciting and canvassing, canvassing included, to 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from November 1 through March 31 and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from April 1 through October 31, Saturdays and Sundays included. Section 13-302 separately requires peddlers and solicitors to register and carry a Chief of Police identification card, and section 13-306 requires written owner permission for soliciting at businesses.

Section 13-307 states that violations carry the penalties in section 13-308, in addition to any other action in law or equity, including prosecution for criminal trespass under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3503. A resident who wants to be listed writes to the Chief of Police at the Bristol Borough Police Department.