Arcadia, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Licensing has two layers. Section 6220.21 sets the license tax at $100 per year for every person collecting, purchasing, selling or dealing in junk. Section 6324 requires a separate permit for each business listed in Division 4 (Commercial Permits), and that list includes Junk Dealer (Section 6324.9), Junk Yard (Section 6324.10) and Second Hand Store or Dealer (Section 6324.18). Section 6321.1 requires a separate permit for each kind of business, whatever the ownership or location.

The fee schedule prints no line item for a secondhand store. The catch-all in Section 6220.33.1 sets an annual fee of $50 plus $10 for each employee for any business for which no license is otherwise specified, and its list of trade services names retail outlets.

Permit applications go to the License Officer, signed and verified by the applicant, with a $150 payment for advertising and investigation (Sections 6311 and 6311.9). The License Officer refers applications to the Chief of Police for investigation when facts warrant, and can require fingerprints (Section 6311.8). A permit can be refused for fraud, misrepresentation or conduct detrimental to the public welfare, subject to appeal under Sections 6216.8 and 6216.9 (Section 6312.1.1).

Zoning follows the use table. In Table 2-8 of Section 9102.03.020, Secondhand Stores show a dash in C-O (Not Allowed), C in C-G, P in C-R and C in M-1. Under the table key, C means a Conditional Use Permit under Section 9107.09 and P means permitted by right. The Development Code defines a Secondhand Store as a business in the retail sale of used goods and merchandise such as a thrift store, where used goods comprise 25 percent or more of total monthly sales volume, and the definition excludes pawn shops and swap meets.