Ward Off Solicitors In Livingston With ‘Do Not Knock’ List

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Tired of salespeople knocking on your door? There’s a way to opt out of the hassle in Livingston: the “Do Not Knock” list.

The Livingston Town Council recently approved Ordinance 12-2018, which allows residents to opt out of door-to-door visits from licensed solicitors. Residents can register their home address in the online database at livingstonnj.org/DoNotKnock (click here).

“We’ve heard from many individuals, encouraging the township to institute a program like this,” Mayor Ed Meinhardt said. “This will allow residents to choose whether or not they want solicitors leaving leaflets and knocking on their doors.”

Once an address is registered, a “Do Not Knock” decal will be mailed to the resident. Residents are encouraged to place the Do Not Knock decal in a window near the front door of the residence. However, solicitors will receive a list of addresses and will be responsible for adhering to that list, whether or not a decal is visible. Solicitors should not approach any address on the Do Not Knock list, town officials said.

Residents who don’t have access to a computer and wish to register their address can do so at the Clerk’s Office at Livingston Town Hall, 357 S. Livingston Avenue.

The ordinance does not – and cannot legally – prevent solicitation by non-profit, charitable, religious and political organizations protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. These groups are permitted to perform those activities between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on both weekdays and weekends, officials said.

All door-to-door solicitors must be licensed by the Township of Livingston. They must also have their township-issued Solicitation Permit with them whenever they are out soliciting. Anyone visited by an unlicensed solicitor should immediately call the Livingston Police Department non-emergency number at 973-992-3000.

“It’s important to strike a balance between the organizations for which door-to-door solicitation is a key source of business and the residents who don’t want solicitors on their property, knocking on their door or ringing their doorbell,” Meinhardt said. “We believe this registration program will do that.”

Residents should note that any Do Not Knock list provided to licensed solicitors by the Township Clerk’s Office will only include the number and street name of the registered address. No name or other personal information will be included.

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