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Chelsea, MA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

No-solicitors sign minimum size
3 by 4 inches
Sign lettering
at least 1/3 inch tall
Permitted solicitation hours
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Barred entirely
Sundays and national holidays
Applies to
licensed and unlicensed solicitors alike
Related nuisance rule
returning after being told to leave (§14-265)

Summary

Chelsea bars door-to-door solicitation at any premises posted with a 'no solicitors' sign under Code of Ordinances section 14-263, and bans doorbell-ringing solicitation before 8:00 a.m., after 9:00 p.m., or at any time on Sundays and national holidays under section 14-264.

(a)No person shall engage in solicitation upon any premises without a prior invitation from the occupant thereof, or if such premises is posted against such solicitation by means of a notice prominently displayed, upon which is printed the legend, "no solicitors," or words of similar import.(b)For the purposes of this section, the premises shall be deemed posted against solicitation if there is exhibited, on or near the main entrance to the premises or on or near the main door to any residence located thereon, a sign at least three inches by four inches in size which bears the legend described in subsection (a) of this section in letters at least one-third inch in length. ... (a)It is hereby declared unlawful and shall constitute a nuisance for any person, whether licensed under this article or not, to go upon any premises and ring the doorbell upon or near any door, or to create any sound in any other manner calculated to attract attention of the occupant of such residence for solicitation, as herein defined, prior to 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. of any day or at any time on a Sunday or national holiday.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).

Full Breakdown

Section 14-263 of the Chelsea Code of Ordinances lets any resident opt out of door-to-door solicitation entirely: no person may solicit at a premises without a prior invitation from the occupant if that premises is posted against solicitation. A property counts as posted if a sign at least three inches by four inches, bearing the words 'no solicitors' or similar language in letters at least one-third inch tall, is displayed on or near the main entrance or the main door of a residence there. on any day, or at any time on a Sunday or national holiday.

c. 93A. Section 14-265 separately declares it a nuisance for anyone to return to or remain at a private residence to solicit after being asked, orally or in writing, by the owner or occupant to leave.

Violations & Fines

Soliciting a posted premises without an invitation, or ringing a doorbell to solicit before 8:00 a.m., after 9:00 p.m., or on a Sunday or national holiday, is declared unlawful and a nuisance under sections 14-263 and 14-264, exposing the solicitor to the general penalties of section 1-8 in addition to the article's own fine schedule for other violations, which runs $100.00 to $200.00 per offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop solicitors from knocking on my Chelsea door?
Post a sign at least three inches by four inches near your main entrance reading "no solicitors" or similar wording in letters at least one-third inch tall; section 14-263 makes soliciting a posted premises without an invitation unlawful.
What hours are door-to-door solicitors allowed to ring my doorbell in Chelsea?
Only between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Section 14-264 declares it a nuisance to ring a doorbell or otherwise seek a resident's attention for solicitation before 8:00 a.m., after 9:00 p.m., or at any time on a Sunday or national holiday.
Does the no-solicitors rule apply to licensed solicitors too?
Yes. Section 14-264(a) applies "whether licensed under this article or not," so even a solicitor holding a valid Chelsea license must respect posted signs and the 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. window.
What if a solicitor keeps coming back after I've told them to leave?
That is separately declared a nuisance under section 14-265, which bars anyone from returning to solicit at a private residence after the owner or occupant has asked them, orally or in writing, to depart.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chelsea

All Chelsea rules

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