Town of Wakefield, MA Chapter 210 Hawkers and Peddlers

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wakefield 7-16-2018.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: These regulations also superseded former Ch. 210, Hawkers and Peddlers, adopted 4-13-1992.

§ 210-1 License required; rules and regulations.

A. Anyone who sells merchandise by going either from town to town or from place to place in the same town, either on foot, or by means of any animal or vehicle, is acting as a hawker or peddler. No hawker or peddler has a right to a specific location.

B. The following rules and regulations must be observed by hawkers and peddlers in the Town of Wakefield:

(1) Unless the hawker or peddler has obtained a state license, a Town license from the Town Administrator's office must be obtained. Such license expires annually on December 31. The fee for this license is $50 for the principal holder. The fee for licenses for the employees of the principal license holder is $25 each.

(2) Hawkers and peddlers with a state license must register their name and license number with the Town Administrator's office.

(3) Hawkers and peddlers selling food must have a permit from the Board of Health.

(4) If hawkers and peddlers stop to do business on a public way, it must be on a sidewalk and not on the part of the way travelled by motor vehicles. If they stop to do business on land other than a public way, they must have the permission of the owner of such land.

(5) If the merchandise sold is likely to generate trash or litter, the hawker or peddler shall provide a trash receptacle for use by customers. Before he or she moves from one location to the next, a hawker or peddler must properly dispose of any trash or debris left by the hawker or peddler or his/her customers.

(6) Hawkers and peddlers shall not conduct business in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

(7) Hawkers and peddlers are prohibited in the Center Business District, defined as follows: Main Street between Charles Street and Crescent Street; Main Street between Forest Street and the Melrose city line; North Avenue between Main Street and Church Street; Tuttle Street; Albion Street between Main Street and Lake Street; Water Street between Main Street and Preston Street.

(8) Hawkers and peddlers are subject to periodic inspections for compliance with these regulations. A violation of these regulations shall be punishable by a fine of $20 or license revocation.

(9) A state or local hawker's and peddler's license shall be prominently displayed upon the person licensed at all times that such person is engaged in his or her trade.

(10) The Town Council reserves the right to waive or revise any or all of these regulations in connection with any parade, celebration or other special event.

(11) Hawkers and peddlers are required to provide general liability insurance in the amount of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 in total, and property damage in the amount of at least $50,000 and shall provide a certificate of such insurance to the Town Administrator's office at the time of licensing hereunder.