Bloomfield, NJ Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Article I of Chapter 408, Canvassing From House to House, was adopted 11-19-1962 and governs door-to-door activity in Bloomfield Township. Section 408-1 requires a written permit before any person canvasses, solicits or distributes circulars or other matter from house to house in the Township, and the permit comes from the Chief of Police or the officer in charge at police headquarters.

The application under § 408-2 states the applicant's name and address; for an agent or employee, the principal's or employer's name and address plus evidence of authority; and the purpose of the permit. For a solicitation of funds or goods the application must give the details of the project, including the amount to be raised, the purpose, the amount paid to the solicitor and the method of solicitation. Subsection D, added 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 24-30, makes every applicant subject to fingerprinting performed by Indentogo, with the cost borne by the applicant. Subsection E exempts any charitable, political or civic nonprofit organization, including public school related associations, scouting groups, Township athletic programs, political parties and candidates, public safety, military or veteran support organizations, and religious or civic clubs.

Under § 408-3 the Chief of Police can hold an application for 72 hours before deciding. The application is denied in all cases where investigation shows the canvasser is not of good character or is canvassing for a project not free from fraud. No person under the age of 13 can canvass under a permit unless accompanied by a person over the age of 21.

Section 408-4 sets the hours: the permit specifies the number of hours it is in effect, limited to 10:00 a.m. to dusk and under no circumstances later than 7:00 p.m. The Chief can revoke a permit for failure or refusal to observe the article, and a false statement in the application is a violation and grounds for revocation. Under § 408-5 the permit must be shown to any resident of the Township on demand and covers only the purpose stated on it. The Police Department keeps the record of permits (§ 408-6), and the holder surrenders an expired permit within 24 hours (§ 408-7). Section 408-8 exempts delivery of goods in the regular course of business to people who ordered them. Peddlers, hawkers and mobile food vendors fall under Article II, which requires a license from the Township Council.