Brookhaven, NY Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 36 defines peddling broadly to include traveling place to place or street to street, on foot or by vehicle, to sell, hawk, vend or solicit orders for goods, wares, food or services, whether delivered immediately or at a future date. Section 36-3 makes it unlawful to peddle in the Town without a license from the Town Clerk, and a separate vehicle license is required to peddle from any motor-driven or non-motor-driven vehicle. Section 36-4 disqualifies anyone convicted of a felony under the New York Penal Code from holding either license.

Applicants under Section 36-5 must submit a verified application listing five years of residence and employment history, a photograph, any prior criminal or license history, proof of a New York sales tax ID, and, for vehicle peddlers, proof of registration, a driver's license and commercial general liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence naming the Town as an additional insured. The Town Clerk's investigation under Section 36-6 can include fingerprinting through the Commissioner of Public Safety and a New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services background check.

Section 36-10F is the core door-to-door rule: no one may enter residential property to sell or solicit orders for goods or services unless a resident has extended a prior invitation, though the restriction does not apply to a charitable organization's representatives. Licenses expire one year after issuance and cannot be transferred, and the Clerk may revoke or suspend a license for fraud, chapter violations, or disqualifying criminal convictions after notice and a hearing.