Chicago secondhand dealers need a BACP license under MCC Ch. 4-264 and must report every transaction to CPD within 24 hours. State law under 205 ILCS 510 layers fingerprint checks and surety bonds, while a 30-day police hold blocks resale of purchased property.
MCC Ch. 4-264 requires every dealer in used goods, jewelry, electronics, or precious metals to hold a BACP Secondhand Dealer license, post a $1,000 bond, and submit fingerprints for CPD background review. Each acquired item is photographed and reported within 24 hours through LeadsOnline or the CPD electronic reporting portal under MCC 4-264-070. A 30-day police hold under MCC 4-264-090 freezes resale so detectives can run items against stolen-property databases. CPD officers may inspect licensed premises during business hours without a warrant. Itinerant or pop-up dealers face stricter monthly bonding. Pawn-style loans are prohibited unless the dealer also holds an Illinois Pawnbroker license under 205 ILCS 510.
Operating without a BACP license, missing the 24-hour electronic report, or selling within the 30-day hold are misdemeanors under MCC 4-4-340 and 4-264-130, with fines $500-$2,000 per offense, license revocation, and CPD criminal referral for fencing.
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