Monroe Township (Middlesex County), NJ Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Section 77-3 makes it unlawful for any peddler, solicitor, distributor or transient merchant to sell, offer for sale or distribute merchandise, advertisements or services for commercial purposes in Monroe Township without first applying for and being granted a solicitation permit. Charitable, political, religious and nonprofit solicitation, and other noncommercial canvassing, falls outside the section.

Section 77-4 sends the application to the Township Clerk. The applicant lists each individual who will solicit, with address and any arrest or conviction history, the employer or organization with its address, telephone number and a contact person, the goods or services to be sold or the survey to be conducted, vehicle make, model, year, color and plate, expected dates in the Township, and every New Jersey municipality that issued or denied a permit in the past two years. Anyone going house to house or place to place attaches two passport-size photographs for each person, and the applicant produces government-issued State or Federal photo identification that the Clerk photocopies and keeps.

Under § 77-5 the Clerk forwards the file to the Chief of Police, who runs a background check and approves or denies within 14 business days. Section 77-6 allows denial for a conviction within the past 10 years involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, violence, theft or burglary, an indictment for such a crime, a finding of guilt under this chapter or a similar ordinance within the past five years, or a false statement in the application. The Chief must give written reasons.

Section 77-7 has the Township Clerk sign the permit and issue a separate badge to each individual, after fees set in Chapter 39 are paid. The badge shows name, photo, company or organization, purpose, issue date and expiration date. Holders display the badge at all times and produce it for any police officer or resident on request. Permits and badges expire no later than the end of the calendar year and cannot be transferred or assigned.