Plymouth County, MA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Definition
- MGL c.101 §13 hawker/pedler
- State license
- Required to sell
- Local permit
- Most towns require
- Police check
- Standard for solicitors
Summary
A door-to-door seller in Plymouth County is a hawker and pedler under MGL c.101 §13 and needs the state license, plus most towns require a separate local solicitor permit and a police background check before canvassing.
Any person, either principal or agent, who goes from town to town or from place to place in the same town selling or bartering, or carrying for sale or barter or exposing therefor, any goods, wares or merchandise, either on foot, on or from any animal or vehicle.
Full Breakdown
State law, MGL c.101 §13, defines a hawker and pedler as anyone going place to place selling goods, which covers door-to-door sellers on foot. Selling that way requires the state hawker and pedler license under c.101 §22. On top of the state license, nearly every Plymouth County town has adopted a local solicitor or canvasser bylaw requiring registration with the police department, photo identification badges, and a criminal background check before knocking on doors. Charitable and political canvassers are treated differently and generally cannot be barred, but commercial solicitors must carry both credentials.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without the state license or the required town permit lets police order the canvasser to stop, issue a fine under the local bylaw, and pursue charges under c.101.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do door-to-door sellers need a permit here?
Can towns ban all door-knocking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts soliciting & door-to-door overview
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