Secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers in Albuquerque must register with the city, photograph and report transactions to the Albuquerque Police Department, and hold purchased items for a mandatory waiting period.
Under the Albuquerque Code of Ordinances, secondhand dealers, pawnbrokers, and precious metal buyers are required to maintain a city business registration and report all transactions electronically through the APD-approved system. Dealers must obtain government-issued seller identification, photograph items, and observe a hold period before resale so that police can match items against stolen-property reports. Records of each purchase must be retained for a minimum period and made available for inspection. The ordinance complements the New Mexico Pawnbroker Act and is enforced jointly by the city's permitting office and APD's property crimes unit.
Failing to register, skipping electronic reporting, ignoring the hold period, or knowingly purchasing stolen goods can trigger misdemeanor charges, civil penalties, and revocation of the right to operate.
See how Albuquerque's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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