Do not call list website: what it is and how to use it

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the Do Not Call list website?

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free government database where U.S. consumers can tell telemarketers to stop calling. The website is donotcall.gov, run by the Federal Trade Commission under authority granted by the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003 and backed by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act at 47 U.S.C. 227 ^[1][2].

The FTC maintains the registry. The FCC enforces compliance for common carriers and has its own rules that mirror the registry requirements. Both agencies can bring enforcement actions, which is why you'll sometimes see citations to both in court cases.

As of fiscal year 2023, the registry held more than 249 million phone numbers ^[3]. That number has grown every year since the registry launched. For any outbound sales team, that figure is the whole reason scrubbing matters: roughly 7 in 10 U.S. residential numbers are on the list.

The site has two sides. Consumers use it to register a number or verify registration status. Businesses and telemarketers get the registry through a separate subscription portal to download the suppression data they are legally required to scrub against. Both functions live at donotcall.gov, though the business access routes through the FTC's subscription system.

How do I register my number on the Do Not Call list?

Go to donotcall.gov and click "Register Your Phone." You can register up to three numbers at once using one email address. Enter your number, confirm your email, and click the verification link the FTC sends. That's it. The whole thing takes under two minutes ^[1].

You can also register by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to add. The phone registration is immediate. The website registration needs the email confirmation step.

Registration used to expire after five years. Congress killed the sunset provision in 2007 with the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act, so registrations are now permanent unless you actively remove your number or the number gets reassigned to a new subscriber ^[4]. If your number gets recycled to a new person, that new person has to register it themselves.

Telemarketers have 31 days from your registration date before they are legally required to stop calling. So if you register today, a caller who scrubs their list tomorrow morning is technically still allowed to call you through the end of that 31-day window. After that, any covered telemarketing call is a violation.

How do I check if my number is already on the Do Not Call list?

The FTC pulled the public number-verification tool from donotcall.gov around 2017 over concerns it could be misused to harvest phone numbers. You can no longer type in a number and see a simple yes-or-no result on the public site ^[1].

Here's what still works. If you registered with your email address, the FTC sent a confirmation email you can search for. You can also re-register the same number. The system will tell you the number is already registered and give you the registration date.

For businesses doing a do not call list registry check, the path is different. Telemarketers subscribe to the business access portal, download suppression files for the area codes they call, and run their own lists against that data. The FTC does not provide a real-time API where a business can ping individual numbers on demand.

Some compliance vendors do offer real-time DNC scrubbing that keeps a mirrored copy of the registry and updates it on the FTC's standard release schedule. Those services can be useful for high-volume teams, but the underlying data still comes from the same FTC-managed registry.

What is the Do Not Call registry list, and who has to follow it?

The registry is a suppression list. Any organization making telemarketing calls to U.S. phone numbers has to scrub its call lists against it before dialing. The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) at 16 C.F.R. Part 310 spells out the obligation ^[5].

The rule covers for-profit telemarketers and the companies that hire them. Political organizations, charities, survey companies, and calls to established business relationships have specific exemptions, but those exemptions are narrower than most people assume. A business that has an established relationship with a customer can call that customer for up to 18 months after the last transaction, even if the customer is on the registry. The moment that customer tells you to stop calling, though, the exemption is gone and you must honor the request immediately.

B2B calls to business lines are generally not covered by the national registry. A call to a cell phone used only for business gets murkier. The FCC's position is that wireless numbers can be registered, and the TSR does not carve out cell phones the way some callers assume. See the mobile phone do not call list rules for the full picture.

State-level do not call lists add another layer. Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and several other states run their own registries with rules that sometimes go further than the federal standard. If you call into those states, you scrub against both lists. Check the Florida do not call list, Pennsylvania do not call list, and Indiana do not call list rules specifically.

How does a business access the Do Not Call registry?

Businesses access the registry at telemarketing.donotcall.gov. You create an account, certify that you are a telemarketer or seller subject to the TSR, and pay a fee to download suppression data by area code ^[6].

The fee structure as of 2024: the first five area codes are free. Each additional area code costs $70 per year. A national file covering all U.S. numbers costs $19,834 per year (this figure is set annually by the FTC on cost-recovery math, so verify the current year's rate at donotcall.gov before budgeting) ^[6].

Once you subscribe, you get the data through the portal. You can download it and load it into your dialing system, CRM, or a third-party compliance platform. The FTC updates the registry data regularly and publishes a new "active file" that subscribers can pull down.

The 31-day scrub requirement means you cannot download the file once and use it forever. Your call list has to reflect the state of the registry as of no more than 31 days before the date of each call. Most compliance teams either automate a monthly download or use a vendor that handles the refresh.

See how do I get the do not call list for a step-by-step walkthrough of the business subscription process.

What are the penalties for ignoring the Do Not Call registry?

The FTC can impose civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation under the current penalty inflation adjustments ^[7]. The FCC has its own penalty authority under 47 U.S.C. 227 and has issued fines in the millions for large-scale violations.

Private plaintiffs can also sue under the TCPA. The statute at 47 U.S.C. 227(c)(5) gives consumers the right to sue for $500 per violation, or $1,500 per willful violation ^[2]. Class actions multiply those numbers fast. A 2021 settlement in a TCPA class action against a national insurance company reached $34.9 million, largely on DNC registry violations (Palace v. Pacific Life Insurance, S.D. Cal.).

The FTC takes enforcement seriously. Between 2003 and 2023, the agency brought more than 150 enforcement actions and obtained over $121 million in civil penalties tied to the Do Not Call rules ^[3]. The FCC has separately collected hundreds of millions more.

Willfulness matters. If a company knew it was calling registered numbers and did it anyway, courts have repeatedly found grounds for treble damages under the TCPA. Ignorance of the registry is not a defense once you are a covered entity under the TSR.

For a full breakdown of what a violation looks like and how plaintiffs build their cases, see do not call list violation and do not call list report.

What does the actual TCPA say about the Do Not Call list?

The core statute is 47 U.S.C. 227. Section (c) is the part that matters for the registry. It requires the FCC to "compare the names and telephone numbers of persons who contact common carriers to those on the national database" and prohibits initiating telephone solicitations to persons on that database ^[2].

The FCC built the registry requirement into its own rules at 47 C.F.R. Part 64, Subpart L. The FTC's parallel rules live in the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The two regulatory schemes overlap, and compliance with one does not automatically mean compliance with the other, which is why enforcement can come from either agency.

Here is the statute in its own words: 47 U.S.C. 227(c)(3)(F) directs the FCC to write rules that "prohibit any person from making or transmitting a telephone solicitation... to any subscriber to a database maintained by the Commission" ^[2].

The Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-10) authorized the FTC to charge fees for registry access and gave both the FTC and FCC concurrent enforcement authority ^[4]. That shared jurisdiction means companies can face action from either or both agencies for the same conduct.

Does the Do Not Call list cover text messages and cell phones?

Yes, with a catch. The TCPA's prohibition on unsolicited calls to cell phones at 47 U.S.C. 227(b) applies to automated calls and texts no matter what the DNC registry says. The registry adds a second layer: if a cell phone number is registered on the national DNC list, you cannot call it for telemarketing purposes even with a live agent and even without an autodialer.

The FCC confirmed in its 2015 TCPA Omnibus Order that text messages are "calls" under the TCPA ^[8]. That ruling means SMS marketing to DNC-registered numbers carries the same liability as voice calls. The $500 to $1,500 per-message exposure applies.

Any outbound sales team using SMS needs two layers of scrubbing: DNC registry scrubbing for the solicitation prohibition, and separate consent documentation to satisfy the autodialer and prerecorded message rules at 47 U.S.C. 227(b). Those are different rules with different requirements.

The mobile phone do not call list article goes deeper on how wireless numbers work with both the registry and the TCPA's autodialer rules.

How do state Do Not Call lists compare to the federal registry?

About a dozen states run their own do not call registries separate from the federal list. Some are additive (they cover calls the federal rules miss). Some just mirror federal rules with state enforcement muscle behind them.

The states with the most active separate registries include Florida (Department of Agriculture), Pennsylvania (Attorney General), Indiana (Attorney General), and Texas. Wyoming and Colorado also run state-level lists.

Here is the key difference. State lists often cover calls the federal TSR exempts. Some state rules reach intrastate calls by nonprofit organizations, political calls, and survey calls that the FTC rules leave alone. If you call into a state with its own registry, you scrub that list too, even if your contacts are already cleared on the national registry.

State	Separate state DNC list	Covers political calls	Annual fee
Florida	Yes	No	Free for consumers; fees for businesses
Pennsylvania	Yes	No	Free for consumers
Indiana	Yes	No	Free for consumers
Texas	Uses national list	No	N/A
Colorado	Yes	No	Free for consumers

LeadCompliant's compliance kit includes a state-by-state DNC reference so teams calling into multiple states do not have to track each registry by hand. See the ftc do not call list and government do not call list articles for more on how the federal and state rules fit together.

How do I report an illegal call to the Do Not Call registry?

You file a complaint at donotcall.gov under the "Report an Unwanted Call" section ^[1]. You'll need the date of the call, the number that called you, and if possible the company name. You do not need to be registered on the DNC list to file a complaint, though many people assume you do.

The FTC uses complaint data to spot patterns and build enforcement cases. A single complaint rarely triggers an investigation. But when the FTC sees hundreds of complaints pointing to the same number or company, that becomes the basis for a civil penalty action.

You can also report robocalls and illegal prerecorded messages through the same portal. The FCC has a parallel complaint system at fcc.gov. For telemarketing violations, the FTC portal is the primary route.

Consumers who want to pursue their own lawsuit under the TCPA can do so without filing a government complaint first. The private right of action under 47 U.S.C. 227(c)(5) is independent of any FTC enforcement action. Most plaintiff's attorneys in TCPA cases advise documenting the calls (date, time, calling number, what was said) before filing.

See do not call list report for the full process of filing and what happens after you submit.

What should a small outbound sales team actually do to stay compliant?

Four concrete steps. None of them need a compliance attorney to set up, though having one review your process once a year is money well spent.

First, subscribe to the national registry at telemarketing.donotcall.gov before you make your first outbound call. Download the area code files for every state you call into, load them into your CRM or dialer, and set a calendar reminder to refresh that data every 30 days.

Second, scrub against state lists for every state you call into that runs its own registry. Florida, Pennsylvania, and Indiana are the three most frequently overlooked.

Third, build an internal do-not-call list. When anyone asks you not to call them, log it right then and suppress that number in your dialer. The TSR requires you to honor internal do-not-call requests within a reasonable time, and courts have read that as immediately or within one business day ^[5].

Fourth, document everything. Keep records of your scrub dates, the version of the registry data you used, and your internal suppression list with timestamps. If you ever face a complaint or lawsuit, your paper trail is the difference between a defended claim and a default judgment.

LeadCompliant offers a free TCPA compliance kit at leadcompliant.com that includes a scrub-log template, an internal DNC list format, and a consent-documentation checklist. It will not replace counsel, but it gives a small team a defensible starting point.

The do not call list article covers the full framework if you want to go deeper on what the registry actually requires.

Frequently asked questions

Is donotcall.gov the only official Do Not Call list website?

It is the only official federal registry. The FTC runs donotcall.gov. Several states also run separate registries at their own agency websites: Florida's is through the Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania's through the Attorney General, and Indiana's through the Attorney General. For federal compliance, donotcall.gov is the authoritative source. For state compliance, you check each state's portal separately.

How long does it take for a number to become active on the Do Not Call registry?

The FTC adds numbers to the registry quickly after registration, but telemarketers have 31 days from the registration date before they are legally required to stop calling that number. So there is up to a 31-day window after you register where calls are still technically permitted. After that window closes, any covered telemarketing call to your number is a violation.

Does the Do Not Call registry stop all unwanted calls?

No. It stops covered telemarketing calls from for-profit organizations. It does not stop political calls, charitable solicitations, informational calls, calls from companies you have a prior business relationship with (up to 18 months after the last transaction), debt collector calls, or calls from organizations you gave written permission to contact you. Scammers ignore the registry entirely, which is why robocall volume has not dropped as much as consumers expect.

Can a business call me even if I am on the Do Not Call list?

Yes, in specific situations. If you have an established business relationship with the company (bought something or inquired within the past 18 months, or had a financial account in the past two years), they can still call you even if you are registered. If you gave the company written permission to call, they can call you. Once you tell them to stop calling, those exemptions end immediately and they must honor your request.

How much does it cost to access the Do Not Call registry as a business?

The first five area codes are free. Each additional area code costs $70 per year. A full national file costs $19,834 per year as of the FTC's current fee schedule. Those fees are set annually by the FTC on cost recovery and can change. Check telemarketing.donotcall.gov for the current rates before budgeting.

What happens if I call a number on the Do Not Call list by mistake?

A single good-faith mistake is unlikely to result in a lawsuit or FTC action, especially if you have documented scrub practices. The TCPA allows callers to raise a safe harbor defense if they have written procedures in place, they train their personnel, and they maintain internal do-not-call lists. But 'I didn't know' is not a defense once you are a covered telemarketer. Document your scrub dates and processes.

Do cell phone numbers go on the Do Not Call list the same way as landlines?

Yes. There is no separate cell phone registry. Cell phone owners register at donotcall.gov just like landline owners. The rules that apply to telemarketers once a cell number is registered are the same. The TCPA adds a layer for cell phones: even if a number is not on the DNC registry, automated calls and texts to cell phones require prior express consent under 47 U.S.C. 227(b).

How often do telemarketers have to scrub their lists against the Do Not Call registry?

Every 31 days. The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule requires a call list to reflect registry data no older than 31 days before the date of each call. A one-time scrub is not enough. You need a recurring scrub process. Most compliance teams automate a monthly download or use a third-party service that refreshes the data on the same schedule.

Can I sue a company myself for calling me on the Do Not Call list?

Yes. The TCPA at 47 U.S.C. 227(c)(5) gives individuals the right to sue for $500 per violation, or up to $1,500 per willful violation. You do not need to file a government complaint first. You just show your number was on the registry at the time of the call and the call was a covered telemarketing call. Many plaintiff's attorneys take these cases on contingency because the statutory damages are fixed.

What is the difference between the FTC Do Not Call list and the FCC Do Not Call list?

They are the same registry with two enforcement agencies. The FTC manages donotcall.gov and enforces through the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The FCC has parallel rules under 47 C.F.R. Part 64 and enforces against common carriers and entities under its jurisdiction. Both agencies can act on the same conduct. Most private lawsuits cite the TCPA, which is the FCC's enabling statute, rather than the FTC Act.

Does registering on the Do Not Call list stop text messages?

It should. The FCC ruled in 2015 that text messages are 'calls' under the TCPA. If your number is on the DNC registry, a telemarketer sending promotional texts faces the same liability as if they had called you. In practice, many SMS spammers ignore the registry. But any legitimate company sending marketing texts is required to scrub DNC-registered numbers.

How do I remove my number from the Do Not Call registry?

Go to donotcall.gov and use the 'Verify Registration' or 'Unregister' option. Registration is permanent unless you actively remove it or the number gets reassigned to a new subscriber. There is no common reason to unregister unless you want to start getting telemarketing calls again. If your number changes hands and the new subscriber wants telemarketing calls, they would need to remove the prior registration or simply register the number fresh (the system would update).

Are there any types of calls that the Do Not Call registry does not cover?

Yes. The registry does not cover purely informational calls (appointment reminders, package delivery notices), calls from political campaigns or candidates, calls on behalf of registered charities, calls from survey or research organizations, calls from companies you have a current relationship with, and calls where you gave prior written consent. Debt collection calls have separate rules under the FDCPA but are also not covered by the DNC registry.

What is the safe harbor defense for Do Not Call violations?

Under the FTC's TSR and TCPA rules, a company can avoid liability for an accidental DNC call if it has a written do-not-call policy, trains its personnel on that policy, maintains its own internal do-not-call list, accesses the national registry at least every 31 days, and the call resulted from an error despite these procedures. The safe harbor is real but narrow. It does not cover willful violations or patterns of non-compliance.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission, National Do Not Call Registry main page: donotcall.gov is the official FTC website for consumer registration and business access to the National Do Not Call Registry
2. U.S. Code, 47 U.S.C. 227, Telephone Consumer Protection Act: 47 U.S.C. 227(c)(5) gives consumers a private right of action for $500 per violation and $1,500 per willful violation; 227(c)(3)(F) requires FCC to prohibit calls to registered subscribers
3. Federal Trade Commission, National Do Not Call Registry Data Book FY 2023: The Do Not Call Registry held more than 249 million phone numbers as of fiscal year 2023; FTC brought over 150 enforcement actions and obtained over $121 million in civil penalties since 2003
4. Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003 and Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, FTC summary: The Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 made DNC registrations permanent; the 2003 Act authorized FTC fee-charging and gave concurrent enforcement authority to FTC and FCC
5. Federal Trade Commission, Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310: TSR requires telemarketers to scrub call lists against the registry every 31 days and to honor internal do-not-call requests; covers for-profit telemarketers and sellers
6. Federal Trade Commission, Telemarketing.donotcall.gov business access portal and fee schedule: First five area codes are free; each additional area code costs $70 per year; national file costs $19,834 per year as of current FTC fee schedule
7. Federal Trade Commission, Civil Penalty Adjustments (FTC Act Section 5), 2024 inflation adjustments: Maximum civil penalty per violation is $51,744 as of the FTC's current inflation-adjusted penalty schedule
8. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Do Not Call Program: Florida operates its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal registry, administered by the Department of Agriculture
9. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania Do Not Call Registry: Pennsylvania maintains its own Do Not Call registry administered by the Office of Attorney General
10. Indiana Attorney General, Indiana Do Not Call Registry: Indiana operates its own Do Not Call list administered by the Indiana Attorney General's office