The Borough of Cresskill in Bergen County, New Jersey, became the seventh municipality in the state to approve a measure refunding the $150 municipal portion of concealed carry permit fees. The Cresskill Borough Council passed Ordinance No. 25-19-1675 on September 24, 2025, with a 4-1 vote.
Interim Mayor John Morgan supported the ordinance with backing from Councilmembers Mark Spina, Hectare Olmo, and Kathy Schultz Rummel, along with Democratic Councilman Arthur McLaughlin. The only “no” vote came from Democratic Councilman Les Kaplan. Democratic Councilwoman Kathleen Savas was absent and did not vote.
It should also be noted that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, on September 10, 2025, enjoined the state-allocated $50 portion of the total $200 application fee, which makes the cost of applying for a permit to carry in Cresskill and six other towns completely free of charge. Meanwhile, a county in California is charging $2,000.
The ordinance directs the borough’s chief financial officer to issue refunds to applicants who provide proof of payment for the $150 fee. Refunds are available effective immediately as of the date of the ordinance passing, but are not retroactive.
The move to begin rebating the municipal portion of the state-mandated fee began in June 2025 in Englishtown, pioneered by Mayor Daniel Francisco. It has also received organized support from Second Amendment rights organizations that include New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the National Rifle Association.
Click here to view a complete timeline of municipalities participating in this measure.
