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

Chapter 10, 'Solicitors, Hawkers and Peddlers,' rewritten by ordinance on April 8, 2013, defines a solicitor or peddler in Section 10-2 as anyone traveling house to house taking or attempting to take orders for goods, services or utilities, whether or not they collect advance payment. Section 10-3 makes it unlawful to solicit in the city without a license obtained from the chief of police and a $100 license fee, though the requirement does not apply to hawking newspapers, religious publications, ice, flowers or wild fruit, nuts and berries, nor to individuals licensed under M.G.L. c. 101, § 22.

The application, filed under Section 10-4, must be a sworn statement submitted at least ten working days before the requested start date, including the applicant's name, date of birth, Social Security number, home and local addresses, employer information, the merchandise or service offered, the length of license sought (capped at ninety days), and two recent head-and-shoulders photographs. Section 10-5 lets the police chief deny a license to anyone convicted of murder, rape, robbery, arson, burglary, felony assault or larceny over $250, or to a Level 2 or Level 3 registered sex offender. Section 10-6 requires licensees to carry an identification card and present it to any police officer or person solicited on request.

Section 10-7 limits solicitation hours to 8:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Licenses expire after no more than ninety days under Section 10-10, and a denied or revoked applicant can appeal in writing to the city council within five days under Section 10-11.