How To Stop Door-To-Door Solicitors In Livingston: ‘Do Not Knock Registry’

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Don’t want solicitors to show up on your doorstep? If you live in Livingston, there’s a list for that: the town’s “Do Not Knock” registry.

Livingston officials recently issued a reminder about the “Do Not Knock” database, which is maintained by the Township Clerk’s Office.

Residents can sign up for at any time, and can register online here. People without access to a computer can register in person at the clerk’s office at Livingston Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue.

Here’s how it works, officials said:

“Residents who sign up for the list will receive a Do Not Knock decal in the mail, which they can place in a window near the front door of the residence. 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.”

If a commercial canvasser comes onto the property of a resident on the Do Not Knock list, residents can contact the Livingston Police Department’s non-emergency number at 973-992-3000. The call should be made immediately, 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.

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, officials said.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind about the list:

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 U.S. 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.”

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