Tonawanda, NY Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 146, Peddling and Soliciting, adopted 8-26-1985 by Local Law No. 3-1985, requires under Section 146-2 that any peddler or solicitor operating within the Town of Tonawanda, outside the Village of Kenmore, first obtain a permit. Section 146-3 routes the application to the Town of Tonawanda Police Department and requires the applicant's name and addresses, physical description, the name of the person or firm for whom orders are solicited, the goods involved, and, for veteran licensees, county-license information; the Police Department must approve or deny within 14 days, denying only for reasons tied to public safety, health, morals or welfare, or if the applicant was convicted of a crime or a chapter violation, or lacks good moral character.

Section 146-5, amended 8-8-2011, sets the fee at $50 per person per month, capped at six months in a calendar year, changeable by Town Board resolution. Section 146-7 bars issuing a permit to anyone under 18. Section 146-10 confines soliciting or peddling hours to between 9:00 a.m. and the later of 8:00 p.m. or half an hour after sunset. Section 146-11 exempts charitable organizations, political campaigns, farm-produce sales, deliveries of pre-ordered goods or newspapers, and activity in the town's Restricted Business, General Business, Performance Standards or General Industrial Districts from some or all of these rules, though charitable solicitors must still file a roster of representatives under Section 146-11.1. Section 146-15 lets residents post a no-peddling notice that solicitors must obey under Section 146-16.