The Doorstep Playbook

Door-to-Door Permit Rules in New Jersey: 4 Cities Checked

So far 4 cities in New Jersey have been checked. Each one links to its own card, which cites the ordinance and shows the date it was checked.

Elizabeth

  • Permit: Yes — a canvasser/solicitor permit, per person.
  • 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).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Jersey City

  • Permit: Yes — a canvasser license for each rep.
  • 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).
  • Checked: 18 September 2026

Newark

  • Permit: Yes — a written permit from the Chief of Police, per person.
  • Fee: $500, paid at filing to the Department of Public Safety to cover the investigation. It applies per calendar year and is not prorated (8:7-12(d)). Each applicant files an application, so read it as per rep. The city's own “Public Solicitation” license page shows “Price: $0” with no scope stated; it does not match the code, so confirm the amount before you file.
  • Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each weekday, and only during the period written on the permit (8:7-16). The section names no weekend hours.
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Paterson

  • Permit: Yes — a registration certificate.
  • Fee: $25 per registrant. 'All applicants for registration shall pay a fee of $25' (§ 367-5B).
  • Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 'The hours of operation for canvassers and solicitors shall be limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday' (§ 367-7A).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Back to the Permit Lookup

City not on this list? The City Clerk Call Sheet has the eight questions to ask any city.