Elizabeth, New Jersey: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a canvasser/solicitor permit, per person. 'No person...shall canvass, solicit, distribute circulars or other matter, or call from house to house, in the city, without first having reported to and received a written permit' (§ 5.28.010). A canvasser or solicitor is defined as 'a person selling goods, wares, merchandise and/or services' door-to-door (§ 5.28.020), and the chapter separately exempts political, religious, charitable and philanthropic canvassing (§ 5.28.110(B)) — so this chapter is the commercial-sales rule.
• Where it comes from: The License Inspector, Central License Bureau, Division of Revenue, Department of Finance (§§ 5.28.010, 5.28.040).
• Fee: $35.00 for a first permit, $100.00 to renew. 'The fee for such permit shall be thirty-five dollars ($35.00) in order to cover the cost of processing the application. Renewals of permits for the same applicant shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00)' (§ 5.28.060(A)).
• Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 'No person shall canvass within the city except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.' (§ 5.28.070).
• What the rep carries: The permit, with a 2-inch by 2-inch photo attached, to be 'exhibit[ed]...to the license inspector, to any police officer or other person, including those being solicited, upon request' (§ 5.28.080).
• What takes the time: Fingerprinting is required before a permit is issued, along with an application listing name, address, age, height, weight, place of birth, marital status, residence history, any prior arrest or conviction, and employer (§ 5.28.050). Permits expire every December 31 regardless of issue date, so they must be renewed annually (§ 5.28.100).
• Code: Elizabeth City Code, Chapter 5.28 — Canvassing and Soliciting (§§ 5.28.010–5.28.130).
• Worth knowing: 'Solicitors and canvassers are prohibited in the special improvement district' — a defined downtown zone (§ 5.28.130(A)). A bona fide trainee accompanied by a licensed canvasser does not need their own application or fee, but only for their first 30 days with that employer (§ 5.28.060(B)).
• Read it yourself: Elizabeth City Code Chapter 5.28, Canvassing and Soliciting · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Where exactly does the special improvement district boundary fall (§5.28.130), so the team knows which blocks are off-limits? Does the $35/$100 fee apply per individual rep, or can one permit cover a team under a single application? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________