Brick's Business Licensing & Operations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles business licensing & operations a little differently. In Brick, New Jersey, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Pawnbrokers

Pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers in Brick Township must obtain a license from the Township Clerk, pass a Chief of Police background investigation, and post a $10,000 bond before buying, selling, or pawning precious metals or secondhand goods.

Key details: License required: From Township Clerk before operating. Investigation: Chief of Police, completed within 30 days. Initial fee: $300, plus $250 annual renewal. Bond required: $10,000 surety bond. Max penalty: $2,000 fine or 90 days.

Violating any provision of Chapter 345 is punishable by a fine up to $2,000, imprisonment or community service up to 90 days, plus license suspension or revocation under § 345-6; each violation counts separately.

Compared to other cities, Brick takes a harder line on pawnbrokers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Massage Establishments

Brick Township requires massage establishments to register with the Township Clerk, attach valid state licenses for the business and each therapist, carry $10,000 liability insurance, and pay a $200 fee.

Key details: Registration: Required from Township Clerk before opening. License fee: $200. Liability insurance: $10,000 per occurrence, $10,000 per person. Governing chapter: Township Code Ch. 276 (2017). Inspection: Township may inspect during business hours.

Operating a massage establishment without Township registration violates Chapter 276. Section 276-7 punishes violations under the Township's general penalty, Chapter 1, Section 1-15, at the Municipal Court's discretion.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Brick actively enforces its massage establishments requirements.

Tobacco Retail License

Brick Township requires every business, including tobacco retailers, to hold a $25 annual mercantile license from the Code Enforcement Office; sellers must also post a minors-sale warning sign and check ID under a separate tobacco ordinance.

Key details: Mercantile license fee: $25 per year. Issuing office: Code Enforcement Office. Minimum sale age: 18 years old. Tobacco vending machines: prohibited township-wide. Tobacco law enforcement: Ocean County Health Dept..

Selling tobacco without a mercantile license draws up to $100 per offense; selling tobacco to a minor or skipping required signage/ID checks carries a $100-$1,000 fine under Chapter 375, with possible license suspension.

Tattoo & Body Modification

Brick Township requires written parental or guardian consent before tattooing or body piercing anyone under 18, with the signed permission kept on file for one year under Township Code Chapter 412.

Key details: Minor consent: Written parental permission required under 18. Record retention: Kept on file for one year. Definition scope: Covers tattooing and body piercing. Penalty: Up to $2,000 fine or 90 days.

Violating any provision of Chapter 412 is punishable under the Township's general penalty, § 1-15: up to a $2,000 fine, 90 days in jail, or community service, per offense.

Secondhand Dealers

Brick Township requires anyone buying, selling, or pawning precious metals or secondhand goods to get a Township Clerk license, with a Chief of Police background investigation before approval.

Key details: License issued by: Township Clerk. Background check: Chief of Police investigation, possible FBI fingerprint check. Investigation deadline: 30 days from complete application. Max fine: $2,000 per violation. Max jail/community service: 90 days.

Violating any provision of Chapter 345 is punishable by a fine up to $2,000, imprisonment or community service up to 90 days, plus license suspension or revocation; each violation counts separately and repeat offenders within a year face an additional fine.

Compared to other cities, Brick takes a harder line on secondhand dealers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Towing Companies

Brick Township limits police-called towing to a 12-operator rotating list run by the Chief of Police, licensed for $325 a year, with fixed towing, mileage, storage and recovery rates set by ordinance.

Key details: Rotating list size: 12 towing contractors max. Annual license fee: $325 per operator. Response time required: 20 minutes to any tow scene. Class I tow rate: $150 flat, under 8,600 lbs GVWR. Suspension authority: Chief of Police, up to 30 days.

Willfully violating any section is punishable under the Township's general penalty (Chapter 1, § 1-15); the Chief of Police can also suspend a violator from the rotational list for 30 days, or permanently after a repeat violation.

Compared to other cities, Brick takes a harder line on towing companies. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Adult Entertainment

Brick Township bans sexually oriented businesses within 1,500 feet of churches, schools, parks, homes, and each other, per Chapter 362 of the Township Code.

Key details: Buffer distance: 1,500 feet. Protected uses: Churches, schools, parks, homes, other SOBs. Minimum fine: $100 per offense. Governing chapter: Township Code Ch. 362.

Violations are fined a minimum of $100 per offense; each day of unlawful operation, and each film, videocassette, or live-entertainment showing, is a separate offense under § 362-6.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Brick actively enforces its adult entertainment requirements.

The Bottom Line

Brick is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Brick, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Brick's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.