Secondhand dealers and junk shops in Boston must obtain a license from the Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing, keep transaction records, and observe holding periods under MGL Ch. 140 §54 and Boston Code Ch. 17.
MGL Ch. 140 §§54-57 authorize cities to license junk dealers, keepers of shops for the purchase of secondhand articles, and dealers in old metals. Boston implements this through the Boston Police Department licensing division and Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs. Licensed dealers must maintain a daily ledger of every secondhand purchase, including the seller's identification, item description, and price paid; records are open to police inspection. A typical 30-day holding period applies before resale to allow theft recovery. Pawnbrokers operate under a separate license framework under MGL Ch. 140 §70. Online resellers based in Boston are also subject to these rules.
Operating without a license is punishable by fines of up to $200 per occurrence under MGL Ch. 140 §57, license revocation, plus possible criminal liability for receiving stolen property under MGL Ch. 266 §60 if items are traced.
See how Boston's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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