Haverford, PA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 130 of the Haverford Township Code, amended in its entirety on June 10, 2019 as Ord. No. 2866, licenses door-to-door commercial solicitors and peddlers. Under § 130-2, no person other than those exempted by § 130-9 can engage in soliciting or peddling in Haverford Township without a valid and unexpired license and without registering with the Township Police Department. Peddling is selling or offering wares, merchandise or services for immediate delivery. Commercial soliciting is seeking or taking contracts or orders for future delivery or for services. Both are measured against a temporary basis, which the code defines as no more than an aggregate total of 30 days during any calendar year, with Christmas tree sales counted as temporary up to an aggregate total of 45 days.

Applications go to the Police Department on its form, together with a copy of the applicant's criminal history. Section 130-3C requires the applicant's name, address and phone number, an address for written notices, the person or entity the applicant works for or represents, the nature of the business, the length of time and dates of the activity, and the make, model and license plate of each vehicle to be used. The FBI check was added by Ord. No. 3001-2024 on July 8, 2024. The applicant must also exhibit any state or county license that is required, including a Pennsylvania license for collecting sales tax on taxable items. Each helper, employee or partner needs an individual license, and licenses cannot be transferred.

Fees are fixed by resolution of the Board of Commissioners under § 130-4. The Police Department, or an official designated by the Township Manager, issues the license within 10 days from the completed filing (§ 130-5A). Section 130-5C bars a license for an applicant convicted of a crime involving fraud or false statements, burglary, robbery, acts of physical violence, or a sexual contact offense. The bar ends three years after the later of the conviction, the end of probation, or release from incarceration, and does not apply if the conviction was vacated, reversed, expunged or pardoned.

A licensee carries the license while going house to house or business to business, or displays it at a fixed location. Section 130-6 also requires each licensee to report in person on every day of soliciting or peddling and sign the Police Department registration book with the licensee's name, license number and the names and license numbers of licensed helpers. The Chief of Police revokes a license for breaking the § 130-7 rules of conduct or for a false statement in the application, with notice served personally or by certified mail (§ 130-8). Section 130-9 exempts charitable, religious and political solicitors, candidates, merchants delivering in the regular course of business, state-licensed brokers, government survey workers, and Township residents under 16 delivering for listed organizations.