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

010 requires every person, firm, or corporation buying, selling, exchanging, or receiving in pledge secondhand bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, jewelry, tools, firearms, furniture, junk, or nearly any other secondhand article in Berkeley to keep a record on forms supplied by the Police Department. Each entry must record, in English, a description of the item sufficient to identify it, including serial number, personalized markings, the seller's California operator's license number, and the seller's signature and address; used-book dealers only need to log purchases and hold books at least 48 hours or two working days before disposal.

020 makes the record book open to inspection by the Chief of Police or any officer at any time during business hours, and it is unlawful to refuse to produce it on demand. 030 requires the dealer to deliver the prior week's original transaction records to the Chief of Police at least once a week. 040 then imposes a 30-day holding period: any article received by purchase, pledge, or exchange must be kept for at least 30 days before the dealer disposes of it, giving police time to match items to reported thefts. 04 and apply regardless of whether the dealing is a dedicated business or conducted alongside other business activity.