Chelsea, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chelsea's junk dealer article, sections 14-107 through 14-117 of the Code of Ordinances, requires a license from the licensing commission before any person may purchase, barter, collect or store junk, waste materials, old metal, rags or other secondhand articles for any purpose; city officers acting in their official capacity are exempt. Every shop keeper must maintain a purchase book recording a description of each article bought, the name, age and residence of the seller, and the day and hour of the purchase, and that book must stay open to inspection by any city police officer at any time.

Shops must post a sign bearing the keeper's name and occupation in letters no smaller than six inches and no larger than twelve inches. Purchases cannot be resold for at least one week after acquisition, and dealers may never knowingly purchase from a minor. Collectors licensed only to gather junk, old metal or rags cannot store old rags overnight in any city building, and every vehicle used to collect junk, metal, rags or secondhand articles must display the owner's name or business in legible letters at least two inches tall on each side.

A junk shop, store or other building housing the business cannot be located within 500 feet of any school or other public building, and premises must be kept neat and orderly, with secondhand clothing enclosed in sacks, boxes, barrels or other covered containers.