Last updated 2026-07-09
TL;DR
Pennsylvania runs its own do not call list under the Telemarketer Registration Act, separate from the federal National Do Not Call Registry. Callers targeting PA residents must scrub against both lists. The state can fine violators up to $1,000 per call. Registration with the PA Attorney General's office is required for most telemarketers calling into the state.
What is the Pennsylvania do not call list and who runs it?
Pennsylvania has its own state-level do not call list, administered by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office under the Telemarketer Registration Act (73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2241 et seq.) [1]. This is not the same thing as the federal National Do Not Call Registry, which is managed by the FTC. Two separate lists. Compliance with one does not give you a pass on the other.
The PA list has been around for years. It covers residents with Pennsylvania phone numbers who have asked not to be called for commercial purposes. Any telemarketer making calls to Pennsylvania consumers is generally required to check the state list before dialing, on top of whatever federal scrubbing they already do.
If you run outbound sales and Pennsylvania is in your territory, you are dealing with two systems. That is not unusual. States like Connecticut, Missouri, Florida, and Indiana all have or have had their own state lists layered on top of the federal one. The do not call list ecosystem in the U.S. is genuinely fragmented, and Pennsylvania is one of the more active state enforcement examples.
The Attorney General's office handles complaints, runs investigations, and can pursue civil penalties. This is not a passive list. The AG has brought enforcement actions against telemarketers who ignored it.
How does the PA do not call list differ from the federal registry?
The federal National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the FTC under the Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310) and connects to TCPA enforcement through the FCC [11]. Pennsylvania's list runs under state law and differs in ways that matter.
Start with registration. Consumers register for the federal list at donotcall.gov. Pennsylvania consumers register through the PA Attorney General's website or by phone at 1-888-777-3406 [1]. Some residents are on one but not the other. Scrub only the federal registry and you will miss PA-only registrants.
Next, telemarketer obligations. The federal rules require covered telemarketers to access the national registry and scrub their call lists within a defined period (currently, you must scrub no more than 31 days before calling) [3]. Pennsylvania requires telemarketers to register with the AG's office and to purchase or access the state list separately.
Exemptions differ too. The federal registry carves out established business relationships, charitable solicitations, and political calls. Pennsylvania's law has its own exemption structure, and it does not map perfectly onto the federal one. The treatment of prior business relationships under Pennsylvania law, for example, has slightly different timing and scope than the federal TSR.
And the penalty structures differ, which matters a lot in practice. See the section on fines below.
| Feature | Federal Registry (FTC/FCC) | PA State List (PA AG) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | 47 USC 227, 16 CFR 310 | 73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2241 |
| Administrator | FTC / FCC | PA Attorney General |
| Consumer registration | donotcall.gov | PA AG website or 1-888-777-3406 |
| Scrub frequency required | Within 31 days | As specified under PA rules |
| Max fine per violation | $51,744 (federal, FTC) [4] | Up to $1,000 per call [1] |
| Telemarketer registration required | No (access fee applies) | Yes, annual registration with AG |
What penalties apply to PA do not call list violations?
Pennsylvania law authorizes civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for calling a number on the state do not call list without a valid exemption [1]. Each call to a registered number counts as a separate violation. Make 200 calls to registered PA numbers in a campaign and that is potentially $200,000 in exposure at the state level, before you factor in federal TCPA liability.
Federal penalties run higher per call in some scenarios. The FTC can seek civil penalties up to $51,744 per Telemarketing Sales Rule violation [4]. TCPA statutory damages for calls or texts to a cell phone run $500 per violation and up to $1,500 per willful violation, and private plaintiffs can bring those claims in court without waiting for the FTC or FCC to act [5].
The real danger for small outbound teams is stacked exposure: state civil penalty, plus federal TSR penalty, plus TCPA private lawsuits. A caller who ignores the PA list is doing more than risking a single fine. They are opening all three tracks at once.
The PA AG's office has historically taken complaints seriously. Documented enforcement includes cases where telemarketers received cease-and-desist orders and faced civil penalty demands. That said, the AG's enforcement resources are finite, and many violations go unpursued at the state level. The teeth, for most small businesses, come from TCPA plaintiff attorneys, who are very active in Pennsylvania.
For a broader look at what violations actually cost in practice, see our piece on do not call list violations.
Who is exempt from the Pennsylvania do not call rules?
Not every caller is covered by Pennsylvania's telemarketer registration and list-scrubbing requirements. The exemptions under 73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2241 include a few categories worth knowing [1].
Political organizations making calls tied to elections or political issues are generally exempt. Charitable organizations calling for donations may be exempt or subject to separate charitable solicitation rules rather than the telemarketer rules. Callers with a pre-existing business relationship with the consumer get an exemption window, though the exact contours differ from the federal established business relationship exemption.
Survey and research calls that are purely non-commercial tend to fall outside the scope of telemarketing rules. That line gets blurry when a survey turns into a sales pitch.
The exemptions do not help much if you are a standard outbound sales team selling products or services to Pennsylvania residents. If money is changing hands as a result of the call (or is meant to), you are almost certainly covered. The safest posture is to assume you are covered and verify with a lawyer whether a specific exemption applies to your situation.
This article is not legal advice. The rules turn on your call type, your relationship with the consumer, and how your calls are structured. A compliance attorney familiar with Pennsylvania law can assess your actual situation.
How do you get access to the Pennsylvania do not call list?
To access the Pennsylvania do not call list as a telemarketer, you register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office and pay the applicable fee for the list data [1]. The registration process and fee schedule run through the AG's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
This is separate from getting the federal list. For the federal National Do Not Call Registry, covered organizations access the data through the FTC's website at donotcall.gov, where area codes can be downloaded for a fee (the first five area codes are free) [6]. For Pennsylvania specifically, you need both.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of accessing the federal registry data, see how do I get the do not call list. The federal process is more standardized and better documented. The state process takes direct contact with the PA AG's office, and the specifics of fees and delivery format can change, so checking with the AG is the right move.
Some data vendors and compliance platforms bundle state DNC list access with their federal scrubbing tools. If you call into multiple states with their own lists (Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Missouri, Indiana, and Florida are common examples), a bundled vendor can simplify the logistics a lot. Just verify that the vendor's state data is current and that they document when their PA list was last updated. A stale list is not a defense.
How does Pennsylvania's list compare to other state DNC lists?
Pennsylvania is far from the only state running its own do not call program. Several states have built or maintained their own lists in parallel with the federal registry, though the details vary a lot.
Connecticut's do not call list (sometimes searched as "state of CT do not call list" or "do not call list CT") operates under Connecticut General Statutes § 42-288a and is administered by the CT Department of Consumer Protection [7]. Connecticut has a long record of telemarketing enforcement, and its list works much like Pennsylvania's, with a separate registration requirement for telemarketers calling CT consumers.
Missouri's do not call list (searched as "missouri do not call list" or "do not call list missouri") operates under the Missouri No Call Law (§ 407.1098 RSMo) and is administered by the Missouri Attorney General [8]. Missouri combined its state list with the federal registry in a way that simplifies compliance somewhat. Missouri callers should still verify current requirements with the MO AG directly, since how the state and federal programs fit together can shift.
Florida has an active program too, and if you work in the Southeast you will want to read up on the Florida do not call list. Indiana also maintains state-level protections worth reviewing at the Indiana do not call list page.
The practical takeaway: if you call across multiple states, you cannot assume federal compliance is enough. Audit which states have their own lists and build those into your scrubbing workflow.
| State | List administrator | State law | Separate telemarketer registration? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | PA Attorney General | 73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2241 | Yes |
| Connecticut | CT Dept. of Consumer Protection | CT Gen. Stat. § 42-288a | Yes |
| Missouri | MO Attorney General | § 407.1098 RSMo | Yes (historically) |
| Florida | FL Dept. of Agriculture | Fla. Stat. § 501.059 | Yes |
| Indiana | IN Attorney General | IC 24-4.7 | Yes |
| Federal | FTC / FCC | 47 USC 227, 16 CFR 310 | No (access fee only) |
Does the TCPA apply on top of Pennsylvania state rules?
Yes, completely. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 USC 227) is a federal law that applies nationwide, including every call and text made to Pennsylvania consumers [5]. It operates independently of the state do not call rules.
The TCPA covers things Pennsylvania's state law does not emphasize as heavily: the use of automatic telephone dialing systems (autodialers), prerecorded voice messages, and the rules around prior express consent for calls to cell phones. The FCC has read 47 USC 227 broadly, and the statute's private right of action is one of the most active sources of litigation in consumer law. According to the FCC, "[t]he TCPA restricts telephone solicitations (i.e., telemarketing) and the use of automated telephone equipment" including calls to numbers on the national do not call registry [11].
For a small outbound team, this means your compliance picture has multiple layers. You need to:
1. Check the federal National Do Not Call Registry before calling. 2. Check the Pennsylvania state do not call list before calling PA numbers. 3. Follow TCPA rules on autodialers and consent for cell phone calls. 4. Follow Pennsylvania's telemarketer registration requirements.
These are not alternatives to each other. They all apply at once. Miss any one and you create liability on a separate track.
For cell phone-specific considerations, the mobile phone do not call list page has more on how cell phones interact with both federal and state DNC rules.
How do Pennsylvania consumers register for the do not call list?
Pennsylvania consumers can add their number to the state list through the PA Attorney General's website or by calling 1-888-777-3406 [1]. Registration for the federal list is done separately at donotcall.gov [6].
From a consumer's perspective, registering for both is the safest approach, because not all callers scrub both lists. Some telemarketers only pull the federal data. A consumer who registers only with PA might still get calls from an out-of-state telemarketer who checked the federal list and thinks they are clean.
Registration on the federal list takes effect within 31 days of signing up. After that, telemarketers covered by the TSR must honor the registration indefinitely. Federal registrations no longer expire, following a change that eliminated the previous five-year renewal requirement [3].
For Pennsylvania's state list, confirm the effective timing and renewal requirements through the AG's office directly, since state administrative details can change.
A Pennsylvania consumer who keeps getting unwanted calls after registering can file a complaint with the PA AG's office and with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov [9]. They can also potentially bring a private TCPA lawsuit if the call involved an autodialer or prerecorded message to their cell phone.
What does telemarketer registration with Pennsylvania actually involve?
Under the Telemarketer Registration Act, telemarketers who make calls to Pennsylvania residents for commercial purposes are generally required to register with the PA Attorney General's office before making those calls [1]. This is a distinct requirement from simply accessing the DNC list data.
Registration involves submitting an application, paying a registration fee, and providing information about the business and its principals. The AG's office reviews registrations and keeps the ability to deny or revoke registration based on prior violations or fraudulent activity.
Failure to register is itself a violation, separate from any DNC list violation. A telemarketer can be fined for not registering even if they never called a single number on the state do not call list.
This registration requirement is one reason multi-state compliance gets complicated fast. If your team is calling into Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Missouri, and Florida, you potentially owe registration fees and filings in all of them, each with different forms, fees, and renewal cycles. That administrative burden is real, and a lot of small teams underestimate it when they build their first outbound program.
LeadCompliant's compliance kit covers state registration requirements across major states, which can help you inventory where you have gaps without starting the research from scratch.
For an overview of how the federal do not call system fits alongside all of this, the FTC do not call list page covers the federal side in depth.
How often do you need to scrub your call list against the PA DNC data?
Federal rules under the Telemarketing Sales Rule require scrubbing against the National Do Not Call Registry no more than 31 days before any call is placed [3]. That is a hard ceiling. If your list was scrubbed 45 days ago, the federal standard says you are out of compliance for any calls made today.
Pennsylvania's state rules require compliance with the state list, but confirm the specific scrub frequency through the AG's office, since state guidance can differ from the federal 31-day window and administrative details change.
Most teams building a real compliance workflow scrub more often than the minimum, usually weekly or before each campaign run. Scrubbing once a month and assuming you are covered for the whole month sits technically within the federal standard but creates risk at the edges. Someone who registers on day 2 of your 31-day window is protected the moment their registration takes effect, not from your next scheduled scrub.
The do not call list number page has more on the logistics of maintaining your scrub cadence and what records to keep.
Document every scrub. Keep the date, the version of the list you used, and which numbers were removed. If you ever face a complaint or lawsuit, that documentation is your primary defense. A caller who can show they scrubbed within the required window, removed all registered numbers, and kept records is in a very different position than one who cannot.
What should small outbound teams do to comply with Pennsylvania DNC rules today?
Here is what I would actually do if I ran a small outbound team calling into Pennsylvania.
First, check whether you need to register with the PA AG as a telemarketer. If you are selling anything in Pennsylvania by phone, the answer is almost certainly yes. Do that before your next campaign.
Second, get access to the PA state do not call list and set up a scrub against it on the same cadence as your federal scrub. They need to happen together, not separately.
Third, make sure you are also scrubbing against the federal National Do Not Call Registry. Access that at donotcall.gov [6]. You pay for area code data beyond the first five.
Fourth, if you call cell phones using any kind of dialing automation, re-read your TCPA consent documentation. Pennsylvania consumers on cell phones have federal TCPA protections that the state DNC list does not replace. Prior express written consent is required for autodialed or prerecorded calls to cell phones under 47 USC 227 [5].
Fifth, build written compliance policies and train your callers. If an agent makes a call and the consumer says "I'm on the do not call list," what happens next? There should be an immediate internal DNC process, a real-time honor of the request, and documentation.
For teams calling into multiple states, tools that bundle federal and state DNC scrubbing in one workflow save a lot of operational headaches. The government do not call list page has context on how federal and state programs fit together structurally.
If you want a checklist that covers all of this in one place, LeadCompliant's free compliance kit covers state-by-state DNC registration requirements and a scrub workflow template you can adapt.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pennsylvania do not call list the same as the national do not call registry?
No, they are separate programs. The national registry is managed by the FTC and consumers register at donotcall.gov. Pennsylvania's list is managed by the PA Attorney General and consumers register through the AG's office or by calling 1-888-777-3406. Telemarketers calling PA residents must scrub against both. Being on one does not automatically put you on the other.
How do I register my number on the Pennsylvania do not call list?
Pennsylvania consumers can register through the PA Attorney General's website or by calling 1-888-777-3406. For the federal list, register at donotcall.gov. Registering on both is the safest option because some telemarketers only pull federal data. State registration takes effect within a period defined by the AG; federal registration takes effect within 31 days.
What is the fine for calling a number on the PA do not call list?
Pennsylvania law allows civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, and each call to a registered number is a separate violation. On top of that, federal TCPA violations can add $500 to $1,500 per call through private lawsuits, and the FTC can seek up to $51,744 per Telemarketing Sales Rule violation. Exposure stacks across all three tracks simultaneously.
Do telemarketers have to register with Pennsylvania before making calls there?
Yes. The Pennsylvania Telemarketer Registration Act (73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2241) requires most telemarketers making commercial calls to PA residents to register with the AG's office and pay a registration fee before calling. Failing to register is itself a violation, separate from any do not call list violations. Check with the PA AG's office for current registration fees and renewal schedules.
How often do I need to scrub against the Pennsylvania do not call list?
The federal National Do Not Call Registry requires scrubbing within 31 days before any call. Pennsylvania's specific scrub frequency requirement should be confirmed with the PA AG's office since state requirements can differ. In practice, scrubbing weekly or at each campaign launch is safer than waiting the full allowable window. Always document the date and version of each scrub.
Does the TCPA still apply to calls made in Pennsylvania?
Yes. The TCPA (47 USC 227) applies nationwide regardless of state law. It governs autodialed calls, prerecorded messages, and calls to numbers on the national DNC registry. Pennsylvania state DNC rules and the TCPA are separate obligations that both apply simultaneously. A caller complying with PA state law but ignoring TCPA consent rules for cell phones is still exposed to federal liability.
Are there exemptions to the Pennsylvania do not call rules?
Yes. Political organizations, certain charitable solicitations, and callers with a prior business relationship with the consumer may be exempt under Pennsylvania's Telemarketer Registration Act. The exemptions do not map perfectly to federal exemptions, and the details matter. If you think an exemption applies to your calls, verify that with a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney before relying on it.
How does the Missouri do not call list work compared to Pennsylvania's?
Missouri's No Call Law (§ 407.1098 RSMo) is administered by the Missouri Attorney General and operates similarly to Pennsylvania's program. Both require telemarketers to scrub state-specific lists in addition to the federal registry. Missouri has historically coordinated more closely with the federal list, but telemarketers should verify current MO AG requirements directly, since state program details change.
Does Connecticut have its own do not call list?
Yes. Connecticut's do not call program operates under CT Gen. Stat. § 42-288a and is administered by the CT Department of Consumer Protection. Like Pennsylvania, it requires separate telemarketer registration and list scrubbing beyond the federal registry. Telemarketers calling CT consumers need to comply with both the federal rules and CT's state program independently.
If I only call cell phones, do I still need to worry about the PA do not call list?
Yes on both counts. Cell phone numbers can be registered on the Pennsylvania do not call list and on the federal registry, so you must scrub them regardless of line type. Cell phones also trigger TCPA protections around autodialers and prerecorded messages, which require prior express written consent. Do not call list obligations and TCPA consent obligations are separate and both apply.
How do I file a complaint about a telemarketer that called my Pennsylvania number?
Pennsylvania residents can file a complaint with the PA Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection directly through the AG's website. You can also file with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If the call involved an autodialer or prerecorded message to your cell phone, you may have a private right of action under the TCPA, worth discussing with a consumer protection attorney.
What records do I need to keep to show I complied with Pennsylvania DNC rules?
Keep documentation of each scrub: the date it was performed, which list version was used (both federal and PA state), how many numbers were removed, and who ran the scrub. Also keep your telemarketer registration confirmation from the PA AG's office. If a complaint arises, this documentation is your primary evidence that you followed the rules in good faith at the time of the calls.
Can I use a third-party vendor to handle PA do not call list scrubbing?
Yes, and for most small teams it is the practical choice. A number of compliance data vendors bundle federal and state DNC list access and scrubbing in one workflow. If you use a vendor, verify that their PA state data is current, ask how frequently they update the state list, and confirm they provide documentation of each scrub. Using a vendor does not eliminate your legal responsibility if calls go out to registered numbers.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Attorney General, Telemarketer Registration Act (73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2241 et seq.): Pennsylvania's do not call list is administered by the PA AG under the Telemarketer Registration Act; civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation; consumers register at 1-888-777-3406
- FTC, Complying with the Telemarketing Sales Rule: Telemarketers must scrub against the National Do Not Call Registry no more than 31 days before any call; registrations no longer expire
- FTC, Civil Penalty Inflation Adjustments: The FTC can seek civil penalties up to $51,744 per Telemarketing Sales Rule violation under current inflation-adjusted amounts
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227: TCPA statutory damages are $500 per violation and up to $1,500 per willful violation; private right of action available without waiting for FTC or FCC
- FTC National Do Not Call Registry: Consumers register for the federal do not call list at donotcall.gov; the first five area codes of registry data are free for covered organizations
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Do Not Call Program: Connecticut's do not call program operates under CT Gen. Stat. § 42-288a and is administered by the CT Department of Consumer Protection
- Missouri Attorney General, No Call Law (§ 407.1098 RSMo): Missouri's No Call Law is administered by the Missouri Attorney General under § 407.1098 RSMo
- FTC, Report Fraud (reportfraud.ftc.gov): Consumers can file unwanted telemarketing complaints with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov