GENERAL REFERENCES
Junk dealers — See Ch. 101.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 191.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 216.
No person hawking, peddling, carrying, or displaying any article for sale shall cry his/her wares to the disturbance of the peace and comfort of the inhabitants of the Town, nor shall he/she carry or convey such articles in any manner that will tend to injure or disturb the public health or comfort, and otherwise than in vehicles and receptacles which are neat, clean, and do not leak.
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Editor's Note: This article was adopted as Ch. 114, but was redesignated to maintain the organization of the Code.
This article shall be known as the "Door-to-Door Solicitation and No Solicitation Law" of the Town of Bellingham.
This article is intended to regulate door-to-door sales by licensing sales agents; establishing a No Solicitation Registry and setting reasonable time and manner restrictions on door-to-door solicitation, including enforcement of the No Solicitation Registry.
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES
The in-person solicitation of sales of goods or services for present or future delivery by entry upon residential property, including multifamily or duplex residential property, or by soliciting persons located on residential property from a street, sidewalk or other adjacent property, without the prior invitation of the person to be solicited.
DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES PERMIT
A permit issued to a sales agent to engage in door-to-door sales in accordance with this article.
NO SOLICITATION REGISTRY
A registry of residential addresses in the Town, organized alphabetically by street name, indicating those residential properties placed on the registry at the request of the owner or occupant indicating that he or she does not want sales agents to enter his or her property.
SALES ORGANIZATION
Any entity engaged in the supervision, recruitment, retention or employment of a salesperson or salespersons, including any person or representative thereof.
SALESPERSON
Any person engaged in door-to-door sales of goods or services for present or future delivery.
SALES SUPERVISOR
Any person who directs or supervises a salesperson or salespersons engaged in door-to-door sales.
The Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit process shall be administered by the Bellingham Police Department. The Town of Bellingham No Solicitation Registry shall be administered by the Bellingham Town Clerk.
A. 
Each salesperson must apply individually to the Bellingham Police Department during posted administrative hours by submitting a completed application, which shall require:
(1) 
Government-issued photographic identification.
(2) 
Date of birth.
(3) 
Social security number.
(4) 
Permanent residential address.
(5) 
Home telephone number.
(6) 
Temporary local address.
(7) 
Current cell phone number.
(8) 
Sales organization information.
(9) 
Sales supervisor identity.
(10) 
Make, model, color and registration number of any vehicle(s) used to transport the sales agent, his/her supervisor, or sales materials.
(11) 
Such other verifying information as may be reasonable required.
B. 
Failure to submit any of the information listed above may be grounds for denial of the permit.
C. 
An application fee to be established and adjusted from time to time by the Board of Selectmen shall accompany each Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit application.
D. 
Background check. Subject to the provisions of the Massachusetts Criminal Records Offender Information Act, M.G.L. ch. 6, § 167 et seq., and regulations set thereunder, the Bellingham Police Department shall conduct a criminal records check of each applicant for a Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit to determine the applicant's fitness and suitability to conduct door-to-door sales. The background check shall be initiated within seven days of receipt of the application. The Bellingham Police Department may deny a permit hereunder if the background check reveals any convictions for felonies or other offenses that, in the judgment of the Department, may imperil the public health, safety or welfare.
E. 
A decision on the application shall be issued by the Bellingham Police Department, in writing, within 30 days following receipt of the results of the background check.
A. 
Residents may submit their property for inclusion on the No Solicitation Registry, without charge, to Bellingham Town Clerk.
B. 
Upon approval and issuance of a Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit, each salesperson shall be provided with a copy of the No Solicitation Registry.
C. 
The only exceptions to the No Solicitation Registry shall be limited to Bellingham youth groups serving children 17 years of age and under, politicians campaigning and religious organizations. Such excepted organizations and entities shall not be required to obtain a permit hereunder.
A. 
No salesperson shall engage in door-to-door sales without first having applied for and received a Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit.
B. 
No sales organization shall allow any salesperson to engage in door-to-door sales who has not applied for and received a Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit.
C. 
No sales supervisor shall direct or supervise, direct, or allow any salesperson to engage in door-to-door sales who has not applied for and received a Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit.
D. 
No salesperson shall enter within the perimeter of any residential property included on the No Solicitation Registry. In addition to the fine(s) established below, inclusion of a residential property on the No Solicitation Registry except those identified in § 135-8C shall constitute notice prohibiting trespass under M.G.L. ch. 266 § 120.
E. 
No salesperson shall solicit sales from a person situated within a residential property included on the No Solicitation Registry from street, sidewalk or other adjacent property except those identified in § 135-8C.
F. 
Each salesperson shall carry the Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit at all times while engaged in door-to-door sales and shall display said permit upon request by any police officer, Town official or any person present at a residential property where door-to-door sales are solicited.
G. 
No salesperson or supervisor shall use any vehicle to transport persons or materials for door-to-door sales unless said vehicle is identified in the Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit application.
H. 
Door-to-door sales shall not be conducted except during the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
A. 
Each violation of any provision of this article shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.
B. 
Upon the occurrence of a second violation of this article by any salesperson, the issuing authority may, by seven days' prior written notice, revoke that salesperson's Town of Bellingham door-to-door sales permit.
The invalidity of any portion of this article shall not invalidate any other portion.