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

Division 4 of Chapter 20 defines a "solicitor" or "canvasser" broadly in Sec. 20-95 as anyone traveling house to house, street to street, or place to place to sell, take orders for, or solicit donations for goods, wares, merchandise, services, magazines, home improvement contracts, or future services. Sec. 20-96 makes it unlawful to call at a residence for that purpose without the occupant's prior consent unless the person has first registered with the chief of police or a designated officer, supplying full identification, a signature, the employer's name, the nature of the products or services offered, the manufacturer or organization represented, and the proposed method of operating in the city.

Sec. 20-97 sets the registration fee at five dollars, covering a period expiring exactly one year from the registration date. Sec. , which streets or neighborhoods they intend to cover; the certificate must be carried and shown to any police officer or solicited person on request. Sec. 20-99 lets the mayor or chief of police revoke a registration for violating the division, any other city ordinance, or state or federal law, or for losing the good character required at registration. Sec. 20-101 exempts government employees on official business, religious, charitable or political solicitors, and neighborhood youth soliciting for snow shoveling or lawn cutting. Sec. 20-102 and Sec. 20-103 separately bar deceptive ruses to gain entry and unsolicited advertising left on residential property.