Telemarketing and Cold Calling Laws by State
Federal law allows sales calls from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time. 27 states set a stricter window or restrict days, and 11 require every party’s consent to record a call.
Rules by state
| State | Calling hours | Recording | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8 a.m.–8 p.m., no Sundays or holidays | One-party | Required |
| Alaska | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Arizona | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Arkansas | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| California | Federal for live calls; recorded-message calls 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | All-party | Required |
| Colorado | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Connecticut | 9 a.m.–8 p.m. | All-party | None found |
| Delaware | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| District of Columbia | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Florida | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | All-party | Required |
| Georgia | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Hawaii | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Idaho | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Illinois | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. (recorded-message calls 9 a.m.–9 p.m.) | All-party | None found |
| Indiana | Federal for live calls; recorded-message calls 9 a.m.–8 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Iowa | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Kansas | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Kentucky | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Louisiana | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Saturday, no Sundays or holidays | One-party | Required |
| Maine | Federal for live calls; recorded-message calls weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Maryland | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | All-party | None found |
| Massachusetts | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | All-party | Required |
| Michigan | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Minnesota | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Mississippi | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Central, no Sundays | One-party | Required |
| Missouri | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Montana | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | All-party | Required |
| Nebraska | Federal for live calls; recorded-message calls 8 a.m.–9 p.m. (Sundays and holidays 1–9 p.m.) | One-party | None found |
| Nevada | 9 a.m.–8 p.m. | All-party | Required |
| New Hampshire | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | All-party | None found |
| New Jersey | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| New Mexico | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Not confirmed |
| New York | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| North Carolina | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| North Dakota | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Ohio | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Oklahoma | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Oregon | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Pennsylvania | 9 a.m.–7 p.m., no Sundays or holidays | All-party | Required |
| Rhode Island | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays, no Sundays or holidays | One-party | Required |
| South Carolina | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| South Dakota | Federal for live calls; recorded-message calls weekdays 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Tennessee | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Texas | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday and noon–9 p.m. Sundays | One-party | Required |
| Utah | 8 a.m.–9 p.m., no Sundays or holidays | One-party | Required |
| Vermont | Federal 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Virginia | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | None found |
| Washington | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | All-party | Required |
| West Virginia | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Wisconsin | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | One-party | Required |
| Wyoming | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | One-party | Required |
The federal baseline
- Calling hours. Telephone solicitations only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time. 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1)
- Do-not-call. No telephone solicitations to residential or wireless numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, subject to the rule’s exemptions such as an established business relationship. 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(2)
- Autodialed and prerecorded calls. Autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers need the called person’s prior express written consent. 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2)
- Caller ID. Telemarketers must transmit caller ID with a number that can be called back during business hours. 47 C.F.R. § 64.1601(e)
- Call recording. Federal law allows recording when one party to the call consents. 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d)
Questions about calling laws
What are the legal hours for sales calls?
Federal law allows telephone solicitations between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time (47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1)). Several states set a shorter window or restrict Sundays and holidays; check the state page for the place you are calling.
Which time zone counts?
The called person’s. A rep in New York calling California at 8:30 a.m. Eastern is calling at 5:30 a.m. Pacific, which is outside the federal window.
Do I need consent to record sales calls?
Federal law and most states require only one party’s consent. A minority of states require every party to agree; the table marks each state as one-party or all-party.
These pages summarize state and federal rules for general information. They are not legal advice, rules change, and exemptions depend on the facts of your calls. Read the cited sources or ask counsel before relying on them.