DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Mayor Zeth Matalucci raised the issue of regulating door-to-door sales in the township, as reports of people selling home improvement services were becoming more frequent.
Matalucci said door-to-door sales are not prohibited, but the township has an ordinance that prohibits parking on public roadways as a means of regulating the activity. He said he has been hearing more and more from residents that a company selling replacement windows has been circulating in the township.
Upper Township has been attempting to deal with the same matter and held a public hearing April 24 on its Ordinance 009-2023, revising its general ordinances dealing with “hawking or peddling merchandise.”
Upper Township Administrator Gary Demarzo said after the public hearing and vote that the township still needed to decide how it would keep track of who is selling in Upper Township.
He said the township would try to maintain a “No Knock” list for residents who did not want vendors soliciting their services or products on private property. He said the township would attempt to maintain a list, but if it turned out to be too much, the township would have to contract the work to an outside agency.
At the March 13 meeting, DeMarzo said, “We have to create a registration and licensing system. It’s nice to make these ordinances, but then you have to maintain them.”
Upper Township Mayor Jay Newman said by requiring salespeople to be registered with the township, it could require background checks as a way of protecting the public.
Upper Township passed Ordinance 009-2023 after a second reading and public hearing, but the fees related to door-to-door vending will be handled in a separate resolution, which can be changed more easily than with an ordinance.
Dennis Township could consider similar legislation.
