How To Get On Livingston ‘Do Not Knock’ List, Stop Solicitors

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of Livingston. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

By ordinance, the Township of Livingston gives residents the opportunity to avoid being approached on their own property by licensed solicitors. The Township reminds residents that they can register for the “Do Not Knock” List at any time.

Once registered, residents will receive a Do Not Knock decal in the mail, which they should place in a window near the front door of the residence.

If a commercial canvasser does come onto the property of a resident already on the Do Not Knock list, the resident is urged to contact the Livingston Police Department immediately at 973-992-3000 while the solicitor is still at the home or in the immediate area. The Police Department must have a record of the violation in order for the Township to be able to take any action.

How the “Do Not Knock” Program Works

Residents can quickly and easily register their home address in the online database at livingstonnj.org/DoNotKnock. The database is maintained by the Township Clerk’s Office.

A “Do Not Knock” decal is mailed to each registered address. Solicitors will receive a list of addresses and will be responsible for adhering to that list, whether or not a decal is visible.

Commercial solicitors should not approach any address on the Do Not Knock list or any residence displaying the Do Not Knock decal.

The Do Not Knock list provided to licensed solicitors by the Township Clerk’s office will only include the house number and street name of the registered address. No name or other personal information will be included.

Those without access to a computer who wish to register their address may visit the Clerk’s Office at Livingston Town Hall, 357 S. Livingston Avenue, to register in person.

Constitutionally Protected Groups Are Exempt

The Township’s Ordinance (Ordinance 12-2018) does not — and legally cannot — prevent solicitation by religious, nonprofit, charitable, and political organizations. These are all protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. These groups are permitted to perform their canvassing activities between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on both weekdays and weekends.

Solicitors Must Be Licensed

All door-to-door solicitors must be licensed by the Township of Livingston. They must carry their Township-issued Official Solicitation Permit with them whenever they are out canvassing. Residents with questions as to whether or not a solicitor is licensed are encouraged to ask the individual to display their business’s Official Solicitation Permit.

Anyone visited by a solicitor who is not licensed should immediately call the Livingston Police Department Non-Emergency number at 973-992-3000.

Answering the Door is Your Choice

As a reminder, certain groups are exempt from the Do Not Knock Ordinance under the First Amendment to the Constitution. They may legally knock on a residence door with a prominently displayed Do Not Knock decal.

However, much like the way in which we may choose not to answer phone calls we believe to be “spam,” residents may also choose whether or not to answer a knock at their door. Whenever choosing to answer the door to an unknown individual, always proceed with safety in mind, and exercise extreme caution before inviting an unknown individual into your home.

>> Sign up for the Do Not Knock list at livingstonnj.org/DoNotKnock

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