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Albany, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Annual fee
$200 per location
License term
May 1 to April 30
Issued by
City Clerk, after police/fire check
Resale hold
10 business days before resale
Age restriction
no purchases from anyone under 18

Summary

Anyone buying or selling secondhand goods in Albany, including gold, silver, and pawn-ticket dealers, needs an annual $200 City Clerk license, backed by police and fire investigation before approval.

No person, either as principal, agent or employee, shall within the limits of the City of Albany establish, engage in or carry on the business of dealing in secondhand articles, either separately or in connection with some other business, without first having obtained and paid for and having in full force and effect a license as herein provided.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

City Code Chapter 293 requires anyone dealing in secondhand articles, electronics, tires, office equipment, or items containing gold, silver, or platinum, plus pawnbroker-ticket dealers, to hold a City Clerk license before opening for business (§ 293-2). Applicants file with the City Clerk, and the Police and Fire Chiefs investigate character and fire safety before approval (§ 293-4). The license costs $200 annually per location, runs May 1 to April 30 (§ 293-6), and dealers must keep a bound purchase-and-sale ledger, report daily to police, hold goods 10 business days before resale, and never buy from anyone under 18 (§§ 293-9 through 293-11).

Violations & Fines

Operating without a license, using another dealer's license, or violating recordkeeping and reporting duties is a chapter violation; the City Clerk may revoke the license and bar reapplication for two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Albany require a license to run a pawn shop or secondhand store?
Yes. City Code § 293-2 requires anyone buying or selling secondhand articles, including gold, silver, or pawn tickets, to hold a City Clerk license before starting business, backed by a police and fire investigation.
How much does an Albany secondhand dealer license cost?
$200 per year for each place of business, per § 293-6. Licenses run from May 1 through April 30 and are not transferable to another person or location.
Can Albany secondhand dealers buy from minors?
No. § 293-11(C) bars dealers from purchasing any secondhand goods from anyone under 18, and purchased items must be held 10 business days before resale.

Sources & Official References

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