Solicitation Ordinance
*PLEASE READ BELOW FOR NEW ORDINANCE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT 4/7/25*
East Hempfield Twp. Solicitation Ordinance
- A soliciting license is required to solicit funds, peddle, canvass, or take orders either by sample or otherwise, for any goods, wares, or merchandise, upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or public place, or from house to house in East Hempfield Twp.
- Exempt From Licensing Include:
- Farmer selling their products
- Registered charitable organizations, national or international service organizations existing for the benefit of youth, aged, handicapped, or underprivileged
- Youth entrepreneurship
- Dealers of bakery, meat, or dairy products
- Insurance, real estate agents, and brokers licensed by the Commonwealth
- Persons hanging advertisements on doors with no attempt to contact the resident
- Political canvassing covered by the 1st Amendment
- Licenses not to exceed 90 days may be applied for at the East Hempfield Township Police Department, Monday through Friday, between 8-4 pm.
- Proper forms of identification must be produced at the time of application.
- Applicants must provide a state police criminal records check at their own expense. This records check must be from the state in which they reside and PA no more than thirty (30) days from the date of application for the soliciting permit.
- Payment of the $100.00 license fee must be paid for at the time of application. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, or money order.
- A photograph of the applicant will be taken at the time of application.
- Any minor employed must produce work release papers at the time of application. The police department has five (5) working days to process and approve or deny the application.
- Any false or misleading information on the application will be cause for license denial. No soliciting will be permitted until the license has been approved and received by the applicant.
- The license must be carried and displayed while soliciting and exhibited upon demand by any police officer, Township official, or resident.
- Any violations of the ordinance can result in a summary prosecution which may carry fines up to $1,000.00 plus costs, or in default of payment, up to 90 days imprisonment.
- Any license issued may be suspended or revoked in the interest of public health, safety, or morals.
- Upon approval and issuance of a license, soliciting is restricted to 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. No Sunday or Holiday sales. Mobile ice cream vendors may solicit until dusk on low-traffic roadways 7 days a week.
