Guides · Compliance
TCPA calling hours by state (2026): the 8am–9pm rule and stricter states
By Mandeep Rao, Founder · Published June 24, 2026 · Updated June 24, 2026
Short answer: Federal TCPA rules allow telephone solicitations only between 8:00am and 9:00pm in the called party's local time. Several states are stricter: Florida and Oklahoma end at 8:00pm, and Florida prohibits Sunday solicitation and caps calls at three per number per day. You must apply the strictest rule that applies to each contact, based on their location — not your own.
The federal rule: 8am–9pm recipient-local
Under the TCPA (47 CFR §64.1200), telephone solicitations to residential and wireless numbers are permitted only between 8:00am and 9:00pm at the called party's location. The window is keyed to the recipient's timezone, not the caller's — a business in California calling a New York number must stop at 9:00pm Eastern, which is 6:00pm Pacific. AI and prerecorded-voice marketing calls fall squarely under these rules.
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States that are stricter than federal
| State | Calling window | Extra limits |
|---|---|---|
| Federal (baseline) | 8:00am – 9:00pm local | — |
| Florida (SB 1120) | 8:00am – 8:00pm local | No Sunday; max 3 calls/number/day |
| Oklahoma | 8:00am – 8:00pm local | ≤3 solicitations per 24h |
| Several others | Often 8:00pm cutoff | Vary; some weekend/holiday limits |
State telemarketing laws change and several lack a B2B exemption. This table is a starting point, not legal advice — confirm the current rule for each state you call.
2025–2026: the 'quiet hours' lawsuit wave
Since 2025 a surge of TCPA class actions has targeted marketing texts and calls sent outside the 8am–9pm local window, with plaintiffs arguing each off-hours message is a separate violation. An industry petition asked the FCC to let prior express written consent waive the quiet-hours restriction, but as of 2026 that petition is unresolved — so consent does not currently buy you the right to call outside the window. The safe posture is to keep enforcing recipient-local quiet hours on every marketing call and text, consented or not.
What does and doesn't fall under calling hours
- Restricted: outbound marketing and lead/solicitation calls and texts to consumers — these must obey the recipient-local window and any stricter state rule.
- Not restricted the same way: inbound calls a person places to you, and purely transactional messages they requested (an appointment confirmation, an order update).
- Operational B2B: dispatch and driver/broker logistics messaging is operational, not consumer solicitation, and is generally not bound by solicitation quiet-hours — though STOP/opt-out must still be honored.
How to enforce calling hours correctly
- Determine each contact's timezone and state from their number or address, and evaluate the window in their local time, not yours.
- Apply the stricter of the federal rule and any state rule that applies to that contact.
- Restrict only marketing/lead outbound — don't hobble inbound answering or operational dispatch.
- Honor STOP/opt-out and DNC on every channel, and keep an audit trail of what was sent when.
How Lead Friendly enforces it
Lead Friendly enforces calling hours at the gate before any call or text leaves the platform. The window defaults to the federal 8am–9pm in the contact's local timezone (inferred from their number), and a state overlay automatically applies the stricter rule for states like Florida and Oklahoma — including Florida's Sunday ban. Only consumer lead and marketing outbound is gated; inbound answering and operational dispatch to drivers and brokers run unrestricted, so you stay compliant without losing the performance that matters.
Frequently asked questions
What are the legal calling hours under the TCPA?
The TCPA permits telephone solicitations only between 8:00am and 9:00pm in the called party's local time. The window is based on the recipient's timezone, not the caller's, and it applies to AI and prerecorded-voice marketing calls as well as live ones.
Which states have stricter calling hours than the federal rule?
Several do. Florida (SB 1120) and Oklahoma cut off telephone solicitations at 8:00pm local instead of 9:00pm; Florida also bans Sunday solicitation and limits calls to three per number per day. Because some states have no B2B exemption and the rules change, you should apply the strictest rule that applies to each contact's location.
Can I call outside quiet hours if I have consent?
Not safely, as of 2026. An industry petition asked the FCC to let prior express written consent waive the 8am–9pm quiet-hours restriction, but it remains unresolved, and a wave of class actions is targeting off-hours marketing messages. The defensible posture is to keep enforcing recipient-local quiet hours on every marketing call and text even for consented contacts.
Do calling hours apply to dispatch or appointment reminders?
Generally no. Operational business-to-business messaging — dispatch to your drivers, brokers, and carriers — and purely transactional messages a customer requested, like an appointment confirmation, are not consumer solicitations and aren't bound by solicitation quiet-hours the way marketing calls are. Inbound calls a person places to you are also unrestricted. STOP/opt-out must still be honored on all of it.
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Start free trialThis guide is general information, not legal advice. TCPA, FCC, and state rules change and apply differently to each program — consult qualified counsel about your specific use.