Hudson County municipalities all require door-to-door solicitors to obtain municipal permits with background checks. Jersey City, Hoboken, and Bayonne issue solicitor permits through the City Clerk's office. Hours restricted to 9 AM to 8 PM typically. Religious, political, and charitable canvassers are generally exempt under First Amendment protections.
Commercial solicitation regulation is handled municipally in Hudson County. Jersey City Code §247 requires a Solicitor/Peddler Permit from the City Clerk's office with a $100 to $250 fee and background check through Jersey City Police. Permits valid 90 days, renewable. Hoboken Code §190 requires a Transient Merchant License with similar vetting. Bayonne, Union City, West New York, and North Bergen each maintain separate solicitor licensing. All Hudson municipalities require solicitors to display a laminated photo ID badge with permit number while canvassing. Permitted solicitation hours are typically 9 AM to 8 PM in Jersey City and 9 AM to 9 PM in Hoboken (some variation by season). Solicitors must leave a residence immediately upon request. First Amendment protected activities — religious canvassing (Jehovah's Witnesses, LDS), political canvassing (campaigns, petitioning), and nonprofit/charitable collection — are exempt from permit requirements under Watchtower Bible and Tract Society v. Village of Stratton (2002) and related jurisprudence. However, charitable groups soliciting funds may need to register with the NJ Attorney General's Division of Consumer Affairs Charities Registration Section.
Soliciting without permit in Jersey City: $100 to $500. Hoboken unpermitted commercial canvassing: $250 to $1,000. Violating hours: $100 to $250. Failure to display badge: $50 to $200. Aggressive soliciting or refusal to leave: trespass charge.
Hoboken, NJ
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Hudson County.
See how Hoboken's solicitor permits rules stack up against other locations.
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