East Brunswick, NJ Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $50 per person per year or any part thereof
- Issued by
- Township Clerk, after police investigation
- Weekday hours for licensees
- 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Nonprofit special permit
- No longer than sixty (60) days, extendable
- First unlicensed offense
- $60 fine in addition to the license fee
- Maximum fine
- $2,000 or 90 days imprisonment, or both
Summary
In East Brunswick Township no one can work as a peddler, solicitor or itinerant vendor without a license issued through the Township Clerk. The fee is $50 per person per year or any part thereof, and licensed solicitors cannot do business before 9:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.
§ 135-17. Definitions. ... As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: ... PEDDLER A person who goes from home to home or from place to place, whether on foot or in a vehicle, selling or renting and delivering goods and services. ... SOLICITOR A person who goes from house to house or from place to place selling merchandise by sample or by taking orders for future delivery with or without accepting advance payments for the goods and regardless of whether advance solicitation is made by mail, telephone or personal contact. ... § 135-20. License required. ... No person shall engage in business as a peddler, solicitor or itinerant vendor without having first obtained a license in accordance with the provisions of this Article. § 135-21. Fee. ... The fee for a peddler's, solicitor's or itinerant vendor's license shall be fifty dollars ($50.) per person per year or any part thereof.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 135, Article III separates four kinds of door-to-door activity. A peddler goes from home to home selling or renting and delivering goods and services. A solicitor takes orders for future delivery by sample, with or without advance payment, and the Article applies to whoever comes in personal contact with the buyer. An itinerant vendor sells from a fixed location but does not intend to stay in business in the Township permanently. A canvasser seeks alms, contributions or subscriptions or does surveys and opinion polls, and is not in the business of selling goods.
The Township Clerk issues a peddler, solicitor or itinerant vendor license once the application is filed, the fees are paid and the investigation is complete (§ 135-3). The Director of Public Safety or a police officer he designates investigates business, moral character and ability. If the application is rejected or the license is revoked, the applicant can appeal to the Township Council, which holds a hearing within five business days following the filing of the appeal. Licenses are not transferable and must be displayed or carried (§§ 135-6, 135-7, 135-26.2).
Some people skip the license but still need paperwork. Veterans and volunteer firefighters who are New Jersey residents holding a certificate of exemption, persons with a valid mercantile license issued under other laws or ordinances, physically handicapped residents of East Brunswick Township and persons selling products grown on their own farms pay no fee but must hold a special permit from the Township Clerk. Nonprofit organizations file a sworn statement with the Township Clerk and receive a special permit that runs no longer than sixty (60) days, with extensions of not more than sixty (60) days on a showing of hardship. Section 135-18 excludes persons licensed by state banking, insurance or real estate regulators, wholesale sellers, delivery drivers and people soliciting votes for a bona fide candidate.
Licensees cannot enter a house without an express invitation from the occupant, and weekday business is limited to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless a resident expressly invites the visit.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Article III is punishable on conviction by a fine not to exceed $2,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. Working without a license is a $60 fine for a first offense in the prior 12 months, in addition to the license fee, with no court appearance. Further offenses within 12 months of the preceding one carry a fine not to exceed $2,000 and a court appearance. The Director of Public Safety can revoke a permit or license for good cause after notice and hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a solicitor license in East Brunswick Township?
How much is the license fee?
What if a license application is rejected?
Can a canvasser knock after 6:00 p.m.?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Brunswick
Compare East Brunswick to another location·View the New Jersey soliciting & door-to-door overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.