NEW JERSEY — A growing number of municipalities across New Jersey are taking steps to eliminate or refund the $150 local fee tied to the state’s $200 permit-to-carry (PTC) handgun application cost. What began in Englishtown has now expanded to at least seven towns, with more municipalities considering similar action. This trend is lowering the cost of carry permits for residents and challenging what many describe as an unconstitutional tax on a constitutional right.
How the State Fee Works
Under New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4), residents applying for a permit to carry must pay $200. Of this, $50 is sent to the Superintendent of the State Police, while the remaining $150 is directed to the municipality where the application is filed. Critics argue that the municipal share is not a simple processing fee but a financial burden placed on citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights.
Towns That Have Acted
According to coverage from News2A, Bearing Arms, and local ordinances, the following towns have acted:
- June 2025: Englishtown (Monmouth County) was the first to pass a rebate measure, followed by Franklin Borough (Sussex County).
- July 2025: Dumont (Bergen County) approved refunds of the municipal portion, and Hopatcong (Sussex County) soon joined the initiative.
- August 2025: Vernon Township (Sussex County) passed its rebate resolution on August 11, and Butler (Morris County) approved its ordinance on August 18. Old Tappan, however, voted down a similar proposal.
- September 2025: Cresskill (Bergen County) became the seventh town to waive the $150 fee and issue refunds.
Some municipalities, such as Old Tappan, have considered but rejected similar measures, underscoring the political debate over the issue.
Why These Ordinances Matter
Many towns explicitly recognize Supreme Court precedent that governments cannot impose taxes on fundamental rights. By characterizing the $150 municipal charge as excessive and unconstitutional, they are taking local action to ease the financial burden on residents. In towns that rebate the fee, residents’ cost to apply for a carry permit drops from $200 to just $50, covering only the state’s portion. That represents a 75% savings for applicants in those municipalities. This is not only a financial win for applicants but also a symbolic stand: local leaders are asserting that exercising a constitutional right should not require paying what amounts to a tax.
National and Local Support
The movement has gained momentum through coordinated support from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), the New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate (NJFOS), and the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). These groups have partnered to encourage municipalities across New Jersey to follow suit, and reports suggest dozens more towns may take up similar resolutions in the coming months.
What Comes Next
With momentum building, more New Jersey municipalities are expected to consider rebate or waiver ordinances in the months ahead. While the state law remains in place, local actions are sending a clear message: New Jersey residents are pushing back against what they view as excessive costs imposed on their right to bear arms.
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