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Albuquerque, NM Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Annual permit fee: $250, CPI-U adjusted
Bond required: $5,000
Permit expires: July 1 each year
Multiple activities: One combined permit
No permit: Misdemeanor under § 1-1-99

Summary

Albuquerque requires pawnbrokers, precious material dealers, secondhand retailers, and automated kiosks to get an annual city permit before buying or trading covered secondhand goods, with a $250 fee due at issuance and each renewal by July 1.

No person shall act as a pawnbroker, precious material dealer, secondhand retailer, or automated kiosk, or advertise, transact, or solicit business as a pawnbroker, precious material dealer, secondhand retailer, or automated kiosk without first having obtained a permit from the city. ... Every pawnbroker, precious material dealer, secondhand retailer, and automated kiosk shall pay an annual permit fee of $250 at the time of issuance of the initial permit and at the time of each annual renewal.

Source: Albuquerque Code of OrdinancesView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-95: Current through Ordinance 2026-010, passed 4-6-2026).

Full Breakdown

The Pawnbroker, Precious Material Dealer, Secondhand Retailer, and Automated Kiosk Ordinance covers anyone who buys, trades, or acquires used consumer electronics, firearms, jewelry, musical instruments, precious metals or stones, sporting goods, or tools from the public for resale. Operators need a separate permit per store location, pay a $250 annual fee (adjusted to the CPI-U), and post a $5,000 bond covering the permit period. A single site running multiple regulated activities, pawnbroker, precious material dealer, secondhand retailer, automated kiosk, only needs one combined permit and one fee. Permits expire July 1 each year and must be renewed by that date.

Violations & Fines

Operating as a pawnbroker, precious material dealer, secondhand retailer, or automated kiosk without a permit is a misdemeanor under § 1-1-99; denied or revoked permits get a hearing under § 13-6-10(C).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate permit for each store?

Yes, one permit per location, but a single site running pawnbroker, precious material dealer, secondhand retailer, and/or kiosk activities together only needs one combined permit and fee.

What items count as covered secondhand goods?

Consumer electronics, firearms, jewelry, musical instruments and equipment, precious metals, precious stones, sporting goods, and tools bought or traded from the public for resale.

What happens if I operate without a permit?

It's a misdemeanor under § 1-1-99, and the city can deny or revoke the permit, with a hearing available under § 13-6-10(C).

Sources & Official References

[1]Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque, Ch. 13 Art. 6 (AmLegal)

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