Residents of Upper and Lower Townships Raise Alarm Over Unlicensed Door-to-Door Sales

UPPER AND LOWER TOWNSHIPS, N.J. — An increase in unsolicited door-to-door sales has raised concerns among residents of Upper and Lower Townships, particularly from vendors promoting mosquito spraying, solar panels, and other home services. Many of these visits have occurred during evening hours, causing frustration within the community. Although door-to-door sales are permitted, township rules require vendors to obtain proper permits before canvassing neighborhoods. These permits ensure that vendors are vetted and carry visible identification, including company details, when visiting homes.
One common complaint involves pest control salespeople using Segways to canvass neighborhoods late at night, offering multi-year contracts with high upfront costs. Police have advised residents not to engage with solicitors who lack proper permits. Local authorities are actively educating residents on the rules for soliciting and have issued citations to vendors who fail to comply. Social media updates from the police have helped reduce the number of unlicensed salespeople. Upper Township’s 2023 ordinance mandates permits for all solicitors, and a new “No Knock” registry is being developed to allow residents to block all solicitors. Officials continue to encourage residents to use “No Soliciting” signs and to report any aggressive or unauthorized solicitations to the police.