Is the New Jersey Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers pay $150 for access to the list. You never pay to add your number.

Does the New Jersey DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The New Jersey state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Yes — the New Jersey registry expressly covers text messages. Telemarketing texts to a registered number are violations on the same footing as voice calls.

What is the penalty for calling a registered New Jersey number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. New Jersey state penalty: $10,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In New Jersey you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. New Jersey state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / New Jersey

New Jersey Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: Does New Jersey have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. New Jersey maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Law and Public Safety administers it. Telemarketers calling into New Jersey must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

Q: How do I register my phone number on the New Jersey Do Not Call list?

Register at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/telemarketers. Registration is administered by New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Law and Public Safety and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2022

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$10,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

New Jersey Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

New Jersey runs its own DNC registry

New Jersey maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into New Jersey must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

New Jersey State Registry

New Jersey Do Not Call Registry (uses federal NDNC)

Administered by New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Law and Public Safety

https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/telemarketers →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Yes

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

New Jersey state list — details

Telemarketer access fee$150

Scrub frequencyTelemarketers must scrub against the federal NDNC Registry. New Jersey consumers registered on the federal list are automatically protected under NJ law. Must scrub at least every 31 days.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteN.J. Stat. Ann. § 56:8-126 et seq.

New Jersey requires annual telemarketer registration with the Division of Consumer Affairs (N.J. Rev. Stat. § 56:8-121). Registration fees range from $150 to $2,000 depending on simultaneous outgoing call capacity. Telemarketers must file a disclosure statement about officer/director criminal convictions. NJ consumers already on the federal registry are automatically protected — no separate state registration needed. Unregistered telemarketers may NOT call ANY NJ resident. Caller ID blocking prohibited. Permitted hours: 8am-9pm. Penalties: up to $10,000 first offense, $20,000 each subsequent offense. Consumer complaint line: 888-NJNOCALL (888-656-6225). Wait 3 months after federal registration before filing complaints.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in New Jersey. New Jersey has a private right of action — you can recover $10,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent New Jersey DNC enforcement actions

Michael D. Lansky LLC d/b/a Avid Telecom

telecommunications

May 2023

NJ AG Platkin joined 49-state Avid Telecom lawsuit. Avid transmitted 237+ million calls to NJ numbers alone (Dec 2018 - Jan 2023), out of 24.5 billion total. 7.5 billion calls to DNC-registered numbers. NJ's Consumer Fraud Act penalties ($10K first offense, $20K subsequent) plus new "Seinfeld Bill" criminal penalties make NJ one of the highest-penalty states for telemarketing violations.

Source →

NJ SB921 "Seinfeld Bill" — criminal telemarketing penalties effective

telecommunications

May 2023

NJ Governor Murphy signed SB921 ("Seinfeld Bill") making telemarketing violations a disorderly persons offense — up to 6 months jail + $1,000 fine, in addition to Consumer Fraud Act civil penalties ($10K-$20K per violation). NJ is one of very few states with criminal penalties for telemarketing violations. Combined civil + criminal exposure makes NJ among the highest-risk states for non-compliant callers.

Source →

Calling a registered New Jersey number costs telemarketers: $10,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and New Jersey residents. If you operate outbound calls into New Jersey, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

New Jersey DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

Stay Current

Weekly digest: what changed this week

New enforcement actions, statute updates, and rule changes in New Jersey — delivered once a week.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Powered by Brevo.

Telemarketers — need automated DNC scrubbing?

Catalyst Partners sets up automated DNC scrubbing across every state you operate in. Federal list, state lists, internal lists, on a schedule that keeps you legal.

Book a Compliance Call →

This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →