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

Section 9:7-4 of the Plainfield Municipal Code bars anyone from calling door to door, without prior invitation or appointment, to sell goods by sample or take orders for future delivery of goods or services unless a license has been issued under Article 7 or the person is exempt under § 9:7-2(b). A solicitor, under § 9:7-1, is a person who goes door to door or place to place selling by sample, giving away samples, or soliciting any business transaction or any money, credit, property or other thing of value, with or without taking an advance payment. Exemptions in § 9:7-2(b) include farmers and gardeners selling their own produce, milkmen, veterans and exempt volunteer firefighters holding State licenses under R.S. 45:24-10, distributors of newspapers or non-commercial religious, political or educational material, franchised broadband subscription solicitors carrying employer identification, and certain sealed-container food sales.

The application is written, signed, filed with the License Bureau with the prescribed fees, and states the applicant's name, age and permanent home address, residences for the preceding 3 years, the number and nature of any arrests or convictions, the purpose, the merchandise, the length of time the license is wanted, any vehicle, and the names of 3 reputable citizens as references (§ 9:7-5). A sale made for another person requires that person's name, address and an authorizing letter. The Police Division fingerprints every applicant before issuance (§ 9:7-6). The Mayor or designee grants the license to a person of good moral character with no conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude or a violation of any State or Federal law or disorderly conduct provision, and the license need not be issued until 2 weeks after the application (§ 9:7-7).

A solicitor's license is issued for 30 days and can be extended for additional 30 day periods (§ 9:7-8(b)). Each solicitor needs an individual license, and it cannot be transferred (§ 9:7-9). The licensee carries it at all times while working and wears a picture identification badge showing the photo, license number and expiration date. Every badge comes with a $5 deposit, refunded when the expired badge is returned, in addition to the license fee in § 9:17-1 (§ 9:7-10). The Schedule of Fees lists solicitors under Police Division purview at $15 per month and $2 a month for continuous period renewal.