Soliciting in Amity Township is governed by Township Ordinance, found in Chapter XVII, Part 2 of the Township’s Codification (see below for details).  Be advised, Soliciting is a Constitutional Right and case law further dictates the allowance of these activities.  Should someone knock on your door to sell products or services, please ask to see a copy of their permit.  If they do not produce one, please ask them to leave and contact the Police Department at 610-689-6002 or 610-655-4911.  If you would prefer that these folks not knock on your door, we recommend placing a “No Solicitation” sign by your door.

Current Permits Issued:

Comcast / Xfinity Cleopatra Roberts, Patricia McGovern & Thomas O’Brien thru 1/23/25

Section 201. Definitions. As used in this Ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(a) Peddler. Any person who shall engage in peddling, as herein defined.

(b) Peddling. Engaging in peddling, canvassing, soliciting or taking of orders, either by sample or
otherwise, or accepting donations directly or indirectly, for any goods, wares or merchandise upon
any of the streets or sidewalks or from house to house within the Township of Amity. The term
“peddling” shall include soliciting of donations. PROVIDED: the word “peddling” shall not apply (1)
to farmers selling their own produce, (2) to the sale of goods, wares and merchandise donated by
the owners thereof, the proceeds whereof are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic
purpose, or (3) to any manufacturer or producer in the sale of bread and bakery products, meat and
meat products, or milk and milk products.

(c) Person. Any natural person, association, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity.

In this Ordinance, the singular shall include the plural and the masculine shall include the
feminine and the neuter.(Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 1)

Section 202. License Required. No person shall engage in peddling in the Township of Amity without
first having taken out a license as herein provided. (Ordinance 13, July 1, 1961, Section 2) Apply here

Section 203. License Application. Every person desiring to engage in peddling in the Township of
Amity shall first make application to the Police Department. Upon such application, such person
shall give his/her name; local and permanent home address; his/her previous criminal record,
including summary offenses, if any; the name of the person for whom he/she works, if any; the type
of goods, wares and merchandise he/she wishes to peddle; the length of time for which he/she wishes
to be licensed; the detailed type of vehicle he/she uses, if any; and the number of helpers he/she
has. Provided, where a person makes application for him/herself and one or more helpers, all
applicable personal information specified above shall be given for each helper. No license issued
under this Ordinance shall be transferable from one person to another. (Ordinance 84, September 5,
1980, Section 3; as amended by Ordinance 291, February 17, 2016, Section 1)

Section 204. License Fees. No license shall be issued under this Ordinance until the proper fees
are paid to the Township, which shall be for the use of Amity Township. The Board of Supervisors
may by resolution, adopt and amend from time to time, a schedule of fees to be paid to Amity
Township.

Section 205. Issuance and Exhibition of License. Upon making application therefor and paying the
proper fee, as herein specified, a license shall be issued to every peddler. Such license shall
contain the information required to be given upon the application therefor. Every peddler shall at
all times when engaged in peddling in the Township carry such license upon his person, and shall
exhibit such license, upon request, to all police officers, Township officials and citizens. No
peddler shall engage in selling any product not mentioned upon such license nor shall any person
having a foot peddler’s license operate directly from a vehicle. (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980,
Section 5)

Section 206. Permitted Hours of Peddling. No person licensed as a peddler under this Ordinance
shall engage in peddling at any time on a Sunday, or upon any other day of the week before nine
o’clock (9:00) A.M., prevailing time, or after five o’clock (5:00)P.M., prevailing time. (Ordinance
84, September 5, 1980, Section 6)

Section 207. Loudspeakers Not Permitted. No person licensed as a peddler under this Ordinance shall
hawk or cry his wares upon any of the streets or sidewalks of the Township, nor shall he use any
loud speaker, horn or any other device for announcing his presence by which the public is annoyed.
(Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 7)

Section 208. Use of Streets and Curbs. No person licensed as a peddler under this Ordinance shall
park any vehicle upon any of the streets or alleys of the Township in order to sort, re-arrange or
clean any of his goods, wares or merchandise; nor may any such person place or deposit any refuse
upon any of such streets or alleys; nor may such person maintain or keep a street or curbstone
market by parking any vehicle upon any street or alley in the Township for longer than necessary in
order to sell or distribute therefrom to persons residing in the immediate vicinity. (Ordinance 84,
September 5, 1980, Section 8)

Section 209. Fixed Locations Not Permitted. No person licensed under this Ordinance shall occupy
any fixed location upon any of the streets, alleys or sidewalks of the Township for the purpose of
peddling, with or without any stand or counter. (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 9)

Section 210. License Records; Supervision. The Chief of Police or his agent shall keep a record of
all licenses issued under this Ordinance. The Chief of Police shall supervise the activities of all
holders of such licenses. (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 10; as amended by Ordinance
252, December 3, 2008, Section 1)

Section 211. License Suspension. The Chief of Police of the Township of Amity is hereby authorized
to refuse to issue or suspend any license issued under this Ordinance for the following:
(a) when he deems such suspension to be beneficial to the public health, safety or morals
(b) for violation of any of the provisions of this Ordinance
(c) for giving false information upon any application for a license hereunder
(d) for the individual’s violation of their probation or parole in carrying out the activities
under the license  (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 11; as amended by Ordinance 252,
December 3, 2008, Section 2)

Section 212. Penalties. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00)
and costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment for not more than
sixty (60) days. (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 12)

Section 213. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance shall be severable, and if any
provision thereof shall be held to be unconstitutional, invalid or illegal by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of any of the remaining
provisions of this Ordinance. It is hereby declared as a legislative intent that this Ordinance
would have been enacted had such unconstitutional, invalid or illegal provision not been included
therein. (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980, Section 13)

Section 214. Enforcement. The Township Solicitor be and he is hereby authorized to take whatever
steps are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Ordinance. (Ordinance 84, September 5, 1980,
Section 14)