Chelsea, MA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Before going door-to-door in Chelsea for any purpose covered by Article VII, whether selling goods, taking subscriptions, or soliciting charitable donations, a person or representative of a sponsoring organization must make written application under oath to the licensing commission under section 14-296. Applicants present a driver's license or other reasonably required proof of identity, and the police department requires a photograph of an approved size under section 14-297 before issuing the photo identification card that serves as the license itself. Licenses expire one year from issuance.

Several categories are exempt from the licensing requirement entirely: children 14 or younger soliciting under adult supervision, recognized scouting and youth organizations, students under 17 shoveling snow or cutting lawns, established route delivery of newspapers, fuel, dairy or bakery goods, route salesmen calling on existing customers, government employees on official business, and charities soliciting only their own existing members or soliciting on premises they own or control. 00 for each day the unlicensed solicitation continues, on top of the general penalty of section 1-8. 00.