Solicitor permits in Worcester County are issued by each municipality. Worcester requires hawker/peddler registration with the License Commission and police background check, with ID badges mandatory. Religious and political canvassing are First Amendment-protected.
Worcester County does not license solicitors — regulation is entirely municipal because county government was abolished in 1998. The City of Worcester License Commission requires hawkers, peddlers, and door-to-door commercial solicitors to register, undergo a Worcester Police Department background check (CORI per MGL c. 6 §167-178B), and carry a visible identification badge while canvassing. Worcester Revised Ordinances limit soliciting hours to 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM with additional restrictions for minors. Applicants pay a fee (typically $25-$100 for 30-90 day permits). Massachusetts has a state-level 'Hawker and Peddler' license under MGL c. 101 §§13-34 administered by the MA Division of Standards, which is required in addition to local permits for most transient merchants. Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, Shrewsbury, Auburn, and other Worcester County municipalities have similar requirements. Religious canvassing (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormon missionaries, evangelicals), political canvassing, charitable solicitation (501(c)(3) registered charities), and union organizing are First Amendment-protected and cannot be licensed the same way under Watchtower Bible v. Stratton (2002), but charitable solicitations require annual registration with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division under MGL c. 68 §§18-35.
Soliciting in Worcester without permit: $100-$500 citation under Revised Ordinances. Violating hours: $100-$250. Failure to display badge: $50-$200. Fraudulent hawker/peddler activity: criminal charges under MGL c. 101 §33 up to 6 months jail and $500 fine.
Worcester, MA
Worcester enforces quiet hours between 10 PM and 7 AM on weekdays and 11 PM to 7 AM on weekends under the city's Excessive and Unreasonable Noise ordinance. ...
Worcester, MA
Worcester regulates construction noise under its noise ordinance. Construction activities generating excessive noise are restricted during quiet hours. Permi...
Worcester, MA
Worcester addresses barking dogs under both the noise ordinance and animal control regulations. Dogs creating persistent noise that disturbs neighbors consti...
Worcester, MA
MGL c. 90, §22C — abandoned vehicles on public ways tagged after 72 hours, may be towed. Worcester Police and DPW enforce. City also has an 'Unregistered Veh...
Worcester, MA
Worcester regulates parking of recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers in residential areas. These vehicles should be stored on private property and are s...
Worcester, MA
Worcester requires vehicles to be parked on approved hard surfaces. Driveway construction or modification requires permits. Vehicles may not be parked on fro...
See how Worcester's solicitor permits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.