Pennsylvania Telemarketing and Cold Calling Laws
In Pennsylvania, sales calls are allowed 9 a.m.–7 p.m., no Sundays or holidays, the state enforces a do-not-call list, and recording a call needs every party’s consent.
Pennsylvania rules next to federal law
| Rule | Pennsylvania | Federal baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Calling hours | Since October 18, 2026, telephone solicitations may be made only between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and never on Sundays or legal holidays (previously 8 a.m.-9 p.m.).Telemarketer Registration Act § 5(a)(1), (10), 73 P.S. § 2245 | 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) |
| State do-not-call list | Pennsylvania keeps its own Do Not Call list through the Attorney General (run by a nonprofit list administrator); residential, wireless and business subscribers can enroll, and listings last until the number changes or is removed. Telemarketers must get the list quarterly and may not call a listed number starting 30 days after the quarterly list that first includes it.Telemarketer Registration Act § 5.2, 73 P.S. § 2245.2 | 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) |
| Autodialer and consent | Since October 18, 2026, robocalls (telephone solicitations using an automated dialing system to deliver prerecorded or artificial-voice messages) need the called party's prior express written consent. Robocalls must offer an automated voice or key-press opt-out within two seconds of identifying the caller, and voicemails must give a toll-free opt-out number.Telemarketer Registration Act §§ 2, 5(a)(11), 5.2(l) | 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 may not block or falsify their name or number on caller ID or get around call-screening tools, and violating federal caller ID rules is also a state violation. They must promptly disclose the purpose of the call, their name and what they are selling.Telemarketer Registration Act §§ 5(a)(5), (9), 5.1 | Telemarketers must transmit caller ID with a number that can be called back during business hours.47 C.F.R. § 64.1601(e) |
| Telemarketer registration | Telemarketers (or the business employing them) must register with the Attorney General at least 30 days before selling consumer goods or services by phone: $500 fee every two years plus a $50,000 surety bond or equivalent deposit. Exemptions include businesses licensed by a federal or state agency and callers whose calls do not meet the definition of telephone solicitation.Telemarketer Registration Act §§ 3, 4, 73 P.S. §§ 2243, 2244 | No general federal equivalent |
| Call recording consent | Recording a phone call is lawful only when all parties have given prior consent.18 Pa.C.S. §§ 5703, 5704(4) | Federal law allows recording when one party to the call consents.18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) |
| Business-to-business calls | Largely, by definition. 'Telephone solicitation' covers calls and texts to business lines too, but only when selling consumer goods or services (for personal, family or household use), so calls selling products for business use fall outside it. Registration also exempts B2B sellers that have operated 3+ years under the same name with at least 50% of sales from repeat sales to existing businesses.Telemarketer Registration Act §§ 2, 3(b.1)(4), (13) | No general federal equivalent |
Recent changes
- 2026: Act 47 (SB 992), approved July 20, 2026 and effective October 18, 2026, cut calling hours to 9 a.m.-7 p.m., banned Sunday and legal-holiday solicitations, required prior express written consent for robocalls, extended the rules to texts, voicemails and ringless voicemails, added text opt-out keywords (STOP, QUIT, END, etc.), and barred deceptive AI or synthetic messaging.
- 2019: Act 73 added business telephone subscribers and robocall opt-out requirements.
Calling Pennsylvania from a sales team
- Schedule call blocks in the prospect’s local time, not the rep’s.
- Check numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry and the Pennsylvania list before each campaign, and honor opt-outs right away.
- Tell everyone on the call that it is recorded before recording starts.
Trellus dials from the CRM list your reps already work, with each call logged back to the record. See the power and parallel dialer.
Pennsylvania calling questions
What are the legal calling hours in Pennsylvania?
Since October 18, 2026, telephone solicitations may be made only between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and never on Sundays or legal holidays (previously 8 a.m.-9 p.m.). (Telemarketer Registration Act § 5(a)(1), (10), 73 P.S. § 2245). Federal law also limits telephone solicitations to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
Does Pennsylvania have its own do-not-call list?
Pennsylvania keeps its own Do Not Call list through the Attorney General (run by a nonprofit list administrator); residential, wireless and business subscribers can enroll, and listings last until the number changes or is removed. Telemarketers must get the list quarterly and may not call a listed number starting 30 days after the quarterly list that first includes it. (Telemarketer Registration Act § 5.2, 73 P.S. § 2245.2)
Is Pennsylvania a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
Recording a phone call is lawful only when all parties have given prior consent. (18 Pa.C.S. §§ 5703, 5704(4))
Do Pennsylvania telemarketing rules apply to business-to-business calls?
Largely, by definition. 'Telephone solicitation' covers calls and texts to business lines too, but only when selling consumer goods or services (for personal, family or household use), so calls selling products for business use fall outside it. Registration also exempts B2B sellers that have operated 3+ years under the same name with at least 50% of sales from repeat sales to existing businesses. (Telemarketer Registration Act §§ 2, 3(b.1)(4), (13))
Do telemarketers need to register in Pennsylvania?
Telemarketers (or the business employing them) must register with the Attorney General at least 30 days before selling consumer goods or services by phone: $500 fee every two years plus a $50,000 surety bond or equivalent deposit. Exemptions include businesses licensed by a federal or state agency and callers whose calls do not meet the definition of telephone solicitation. (Telemarketer Registration Act §§ 3, 4, 73 P.S. §§ 2243, 2244)
This page summarizes Pennsylvania and federal rules for general information. It is not legal advice, rules change, and exemptions depend on the facts of your calls. Read the cited sources or ask counsel before relying on it.