Hawkers & Peddlers Licenses
Hawker and peddler means any person, either principal or agent, who travels either by foot, cart or vehicle from town to town or from place to place in the same town selling or bartering or carrying for sale or barter or exposing therefore any goods, wares, merchandise or offering to perform personal services for household repairs or improvements. For example: hot dog vendor or vinyl siding vendor.
Hawkers and peddlers are permitted on sites in the central business, central business limited zone, and commerce zones or any other commercial property that is a lawful non-conforming use or has received a variance or special exception from the zoning board of adjustment. The site shall have sufficient on-site parking and an adequate and safe means of entrance and exit. The hawker and peddler and/or customer parking cannot be on public streets or fire lanes in private lots. Additionally, the hawker and peddler and/or customer parking cannot use private parking that has previously been allocated under zoning or site plan requirements and decisions.
Hawking and peddling of frozen confections is permitted in residential areas excepting for the following streets: Arch Street, Baker Street, Base Hill Road, Beaver Street, Blossom Street, Court Street, Eastern Avenue, East Surry Road, Grove Street, Hastings Avenue, Hurricane Road, Island Street, Key Road, Mechanic Street, North Street, Park Avenue, Roxbury Street, School Street, South Lincoln Street, Summer Street, Swanzey Factory Road, Walpole Road, Water Street, West Street, West Surry Road, Whitcomb’s Mill Road, Winter Street, Wyman Road.
Obtaining a License for activities on Private Property/Mobile Vendors/Frozen Confections
The City Clerk is the licensing authority for Hawker and Peddler Licenses. To obtain a license, the applicant must complete an application that is submitted to the City Clerk’s Office along with the applicable fee. The applicant will also need to submit a copy of their NH State License and a signed letter of permission from the property owner if they will operate in a fixed location on private property. The location will need to be reviewed by the Office of Community Development to determine if there is enough parking for the activity to occur at the chosen site. Mobile vendors will provide a list of the locations they intend to stop at on their route. The Office of Community Development will confirm the location(s)are appropriately zoned for the activity and assist with Food Licensing if applicable. The Fire Department will inspect the truck, trailer or cart. The City Clerk’s Office will ask that the applicant obtain sign-offs on their application from each of these Departments prior to submitting, and upon receipt of a complete application, will initiate a review process including performing a background check on any vendor listed on the application. Once the review process has concluded, the City Clerk will issue the license.
Obtaining a License for vending on City Property
If an applicant wishes to operate a vending cart on one of the approved City vending sites, they will complete the application process as dictated above, and will also be required to submit a certificate of liability insurance listing the City of Keene as an Additional Insured and sign an indemnification agreement to finalize the licensing process.
Licenses Requiring City Council Approval
City Council approval is needed for applicants requesting permission to operate outside the hours of operation dictated by our City Code. The applicant will submit the documentation needed to apply for the Hawker and Peddler License to the City Clerk’s Office along with a letter addressed to the Honorable Mayor and City Council. The applicant will be invited to a meeting of the Planning, Licenses and Development Committee to discuss their request for extended hours of operation. Once Council permission has been received, the City Clerk will proceed with reviewing and issuing the license as described above.
Licenses issued under this section of the City Code will expire April 1 of each year. The application fee for this license is $150.00 per year. For applicants using City Property, an additional $250.00 rental fee will be assessed, and a $60.00 fee for use of City electricity, if needed.
Helpful Links
Map of Vendor Locations on City Property