Cold calling hours by state: what time can you legally call?

Federal rules allow covered calls between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time. Two federal rules set that same window. The FCC’s TCPA rules bar telephone solicitations to residential subscribers before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., local time at the called party’s location (47 CFR 64.1200(c)(1)). The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule bars calls to a person’s residence outside the same hours without consent (16 CFR 310.4(c)).

At least 18 states differ from the federal window, with later starts, earlier ends, Sunday or holiday bans, or a limit of three calls in 24 hours. Each state defines who is protected in its own way, so the last column matters as much as the hours.

Some states also restrict automated calls only. Michigan, for example, makes an unsolicited commercial call received between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. a misdemeanor, and Illinois bans autodialed recorded messages between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. We have not yet checked every state; a state missing from the table is not confirmed to follow the federal window.

Several states tightened their windows or added call limits, and Pennsylvania’s new law is the biggest change for B2B callers. Texas extended its rules to texts but left calling hours alone.

• Pennsylvania: Act 47 of 2026 (SB 992, signed July 20, 2026) is reported to narrow calls to 9 a.m.–7 p.m., ban Sunday calls, cover texts and business subscribers, and take effect around October 18, 2026.
• Oregon: HB 3865 (2025) moved the end of the window from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. and added a three-calls-in-24-hours limit, effective January 1, 2026.
• Texas: SB 140 (effective September 1, 2025) extended the state’s telemarketing registration and do-not-call rules to texts and made violations actionable under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The calling-hour rule did not change.
• Maryland: a 2024 amendment added a private right of action to the Stop the Spam Calls Act of 2023, in force since January 1, 2024.
• Connecticut: Public Act 23-98 moved the end of the window from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. in October 2023.

Often not, but do not assume. The federal rules protect residential subscribers and residences, and most state rules protect consumers or residential lines, so a call to a company’s main line is generally outside them.

Three exceptions stand out. Business mobile numbers can be treated as residential, because FCC rules extend residential protections to many wireless numbers. Mississippi’s law covers businesses outright. Florida’s hours and three-call limit apply even to sellers that are otherwise exempt. Pennsylvania’s Act 47 is also reported to cover business subscribers once it takes effect. Because a single list usually mixes main lines, direct dials and mobiles, the simplest approach is to apply the stricter state window to every call rather than sort numbers by type.

Weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the called person’s local time fit every state window in the table above. If you want more of the day, apply each state’s own rule instead.

• Apply the stricter of the federal rule and the called person’s state rule, in the called person’s local time.
• Avoid Sundays and legal holidays.
• Limit repeat calls to three on the same subject to the same number in 24 hours.
• Use the person’s known business location for time zone; an area code is only a first guess.
• Honor any request not to be called, immediately and across your team.

Legal hours are the outer limit, not the target. For business calls, work hours in the prospect’s time zone are the practical window, and the best hour depends on the role you are calling.

Many teams find early morning, before meetings start, and late afternoon work best, but results vary by role and industry. Rather than copy a generic best time, log every attempt with its hour and day, and compare connect rates after a few hundred calls. Keep the safe window above as the outer limit while you test.

SalesOne Voice limits calls to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the person’s local time and applies stricter state rules on top, so one setting covers calls across time zones. It also checks Do Not Call data less than 31 days old before each call, and a person places every call. These checks support your compliance program; they do not replace counsel’s review of it.

Calls placed by a SalesOne SDR follow these rules too: the SDR works inside your workspace, and the same checks run before every call the SDR makes. The SalesOne SDR page, linked below, explains how the seat works.