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

• The answer: Yes — a canvasser license for each rep. The definition covers anyone going house to house taking orders for goods or for services to be performed in the future (245-11, 245-12). The application is sworn, personal to the individual, and carries that person's photograph and fingerprints.
• Where it comes from: The application is filed with the City Treasurer. The Chief of Police investigates and signs the permit before the license is issued (245-14, 245-15).
• Fee: $2.00, listed in the city's fee chapter as “Investigation of applicant for canvasser license” (160-1(AA)(4)). That is the only canvasser charge in the schedule. The $250.00 per year peddler's license in the same list is for peddlers who carry goods for sale, not order-takers.
• Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No person may canvass in the city outside those hours (245-19).
• What the rep carries: The license, with the rep's photograph on it, shown to any police officer or any other person on request. It is surrendered to police headquarters when it expires (245-19, 245-20).
• What takes the time: The police character investigation. The application needs a 2 x 2 inch photograph taken within sixty days, fingerprints, and the names of at least two Hudson County property owners as references, or other evidence of good character (245-14(A)(7), (8)). The code posts no processing time.
• Code: Jersey City Code Chapter 245, Article III, Canvassers and Solicitors (245-11 to 245-21); fee in 160-1(AA). Municode shows the code covering ordinances through 25-054, adopted May 7, 2025 (Supp. No. 52).
• Worth knowing: Jersey City runs a no-knock registry kept by the City Clerk. The Clerk hands the current list to each licensee, but it is on the rep to have the latest one before knocking (245-20.1(E), (F)). Knocking a listed address is a minimum fine of one hundred dollars and permanent revocation of the license (245-20.1(G)). Annual licenses all expire December 31 (245-18).
• Read it yourself: Jersey City Code Chapter 245 · Jersey City Code 160-1, Fee schedule · Jersey City Code, currency statement · checked 18 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Is the $2.00 investigation fee in the fee chapter still the amount charged? How long does the police investigation take? Where are fingerprints taken, and is there a separate charge? How does a rep get the updated no-knock list each month? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________