Secondhand dealers buying used goods in Atlanta must register with APD, photograph and record each item with seller ID, and hold purchases at least 15 days before resale to deter fencing of stolen property.
Atlanta City Code Chapter 30 regulates secondhand dealers, defined to include businesses that buy and resell used jewelry, electronics, tools, and other regulated goods (gold buyers, scrap metal recyclers separately covered). Dealers must register with the Atlanta Police Department, maintain a permanent business location, and submit daily reports of all purchases through the city's electronic reporting system. Each transaction record must include the seller's government ID, a photograph or description of the item, and any serial numbers. Items must be held a minimum of 15 days before resale or alteration. Itinerant gold buyers operating from hotel rooms are subject to additional permit requirements and bond.
Failure to register, file daily reports, or honor the 15-day hold period can lead to permit suspension, fines up to $1,000 per violation, and criminal charges for receiving stolen property.
See how Atlanta's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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