Federal rule
The FCC's TCPA rules (47 CFR 64.1200(c)(1)) and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR 310.4(c)) both prohibit telephone solicitations before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. local time at the called party's location. "Local time" means the recipient's time zone, not yours, so use the lead's state or area code.
States with stricter hours
| State | Allowed window (local) | Other limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal default | 8am–9pm | n/a | 47 CFR 64.1200(c)(1) |
| Florida | 8am–8pm | Max 3 sales calls per person per 24 hours on the same subject | Fla. Stat. §501.616(6) |
| Oklahoma | 8am–8pm | Max 3 calls per 24 hours on the same subject | 15 O.S. §775C |
| Maryland | 8am–8pm | Max 3 calls per 24 hours on the same subject | Stop the Spam Calls Act (2024) |
| Washington | 8am–8pm | Solicitor identification duties | RCW 80.36.390 |
| Connecticut | 9am–8pm | Identify within 10 seconds; written consent for sales calls | SB 1058 (2023) |
| Texas | 9am–9pm Mon–Sat; noon–9pm Sunday | Applies to texts since Sept 2025; registration required | Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §301.051 |
Some other states have Sunday or holiday restrictions (for example Louisiana and Alabama) that we haven't independently verified. Check the state statute before calling there.
A safe default window
If you call nationally, the simplest compliant default is 9am–8pm local time, Monday–Saturday, and noon–8pm on Sundays, plus a cap of 3 attempts per lead per day. That satisfies every rule in the table above. Ring a Human enforces 9am–8pm local time (with Texas's Sunday rule) before a caller can claim or dial a task.
Calling hours aren't the only rule
- Do Not Call: scrub against the National Registry at least every 31 days unless you have an established business relationship (inquiry within 3 months, purchase within 18) or written permission.
- Consent: AI or prerecorded voices need prior express (written, for marketing) consent at any hour. See TCPA consent requirements.
- Texts: federal quiet hours and DNC rules apply to marketing texts too.
FAQ
What time can telemarketers legally call?
Federally, between 8am and 9pm in the called person's local time. Florida, Oklahoma, Maryland and Washington end at 8pm, Connecticut runs 9am–8pm, and Texas runs 9am–9pm with Sundays starting at noon.
Do TCPA calling hours apply to B2B calls?
The federal hour limits are written for calls to residential subscribers, and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule exempts most B2B calls. But many business contacts use personal cell phones, and some state laws apply more broadly, so most teams apply the same window to everyone.
Whose time zone counts, mine or theirs?
The called person's. Use their state or area code to determine local time.
How many times a day can I call the same lead?
There's no federal per-day cap, but Florida, Oklahoma and Maryland limit sales calls to 3 per person per 24 hours on the same subject.
General information, not legal advice. Check a specific call with the TCPA call checker.
Ring a Human won't let a caller dial outside the lead's local window.