Atlanta, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Recordkeeping deadline
- Entry required within 1 hour
- Minimum hold period
- 15 days before resale
- Daily reporting
- Written report to police daily
- Seller age minimum
- Must be 18 or older
- Enforcing agency
- Atlanta Police Department
Summary
Atlanta requires secondhand dealers to log every item's description and seller's identity within one hour of purchase, hold goods 15 days, and file daily purchase reports with the police department.
All secondhand dealers shall keep a book wherein shall be entered an accurate description of all property of the kinds specified in section 122-26 which they acquire by purchase or trade and the name, address, estimated age, weight and height of the person from whom purchased or acquired and the date and hour of the purchase. These entries shall be made as soon as possible after the transaction is had, in no case more than one hour thereafter.(b)Inspection. This record shall at all times be subject to inspection and examination by the department of police. (Code 1977, § 14-6393)
State Law reference— Permanent records required of dealers in precious metals and gems, O.C.G.A. § 43-37-3.
Full Breakdown
Under Atlanta Code § 122-26 through § 122-37, anyone who buys, sells, or trades used jewelry, watches, precious metals, gems, guns, or bicycles is a secondhand dealer and must keep a numbered logbook of every item and seller (name, address, age, weight, height) entered within one hour of the transaction. Dealers file a daily written report with the Atlanta Police Department covering the prior 24 hours, hold every item for at least 15 days before resale, and may not buy from anyone under 18. Automobile parts, tires, and batteries are excluded from this article and regulated separately.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep required records, skipping daily police reports, or reselling before the 15-day hold expires violates Chapter 122 and carries the Code's general penalty: up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both under § 1-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Atlanta secondhand dealers need a special license?
How long must a secondhand dealer hold purchased items?
Can a secondhand dealer buy from a minor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
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Secondhand Dealers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle secondhand dealers.