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

East Orange defines a solicitor broadly in § 118-8 as anyone traveling by foot or vehicle who sells or offers to sell goods by sample or for future delivery, or who offers future services, whether or not payment changes hands on the spot. A handful of groups are exempt from licensing under § 118-9: regular delivery drivers, badge-carrying public utility employees, life insurance agents, and corporations already licensed by a state agency. Everyone else must file an application with the Tax Collector under § 118-11 that includes a home address, a description of the goods, a copy of the applicant's Social Security card, the source of the goods, employer information, three character references, a criminal history disclosure, a six-month list of other municipalities worked, and any customer complaints, plus the Chapter 170 license fee.

Section 118-14 lets the Tax Collector's designee inspect the property, vehicles, equipment or records tied to the license, and § 118-16 requires fingerprinting before any license issues. Licensees must carry the license at all times, produce it on request from any City official, allow inspections under § 170-24, and confine their solicitation to 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, under § 118-12. A photo identification card under § 118-17 must be shown to any police officer or City official on demand. The license is nontransferable, and the City can refuse, suspend or revoke it under § 118-15 for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of the peace, or any violation of the article.