Fall River, MA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Fall River Police Department
- Background check required
- Yes, under MGL c. 6 § 167
- Vehicle marking
- 4-inch lettering required on vehicle
- Second violation
- Automatic permit revocation
Summary
Door-to-door salespeople in Fall River must get a City permit from the Police Department before knocking, submitting ID, a background check, and vehicle details: wearing the permit visibly while soliciting.
No salesperson shall engage in door-to-door sales without first having applied for and received a City door-to-door sales permit.
B. No sales organization shall allow any salesperson to engage in door-to-door sales who has not applied for and received a City door-to-door sales permit.
C. No sales supervisor shall direct, supervise or allow any salesperson to engage in door-to-door sales who has not applied for and received a City door-to-door sales permit.
D. Each salesperson shall wear affixed to his outer clothing the City door-to-door sales permit at all times while engaged in door-to-door sales.
E. No salesperson or supervisor shall use any vehicle to transport persons or materials for door-to-door sales unless said vehicle is identified in the City door-to-door sales permit application and the exterior of said vehicle is marked with the name of the sales organization and the words "door-to-door sales." All required information shall be in letters a minimum of four inches in height on both sides of the vehicle.
F. The fee for the door-to-door sales permit shall be as set forth in Chapter A110, Fee Schedule, of the City Code, and fees shall remain with the City Police Department and are nonrefundable.[1] [1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions).
G.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Every individual salesperson, not just the company, must apply in person to the Fall River Police Department with photo ID, date of birth, Social Security number, home and local addresses, employer and supervisor information, and vehicle details. The city runs a criminal-records check under MGL c. 6, § 167 before issuing the permit. Permit holders must visibly wear the permit while soliciting, and any vehicle used for sales must be marked with the sales organization's name and the words 'door-to-door sales' in four-inch letters. The Police Chief can deny or revoke a permit for fraud, a felony conviction within 10 years, or a misdemeanor within five years.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without a permit, letting an unpermitted salesperson work for you, or using an unmarked vehicle violates Chapter 14, Article XX; each violation is fined under City Code § 1-15, and a second offense means automatic permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do nonprofit fundraisers need a permit?
What happens if a solicitor ignores a No Soliciting sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
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