Clackamas County, OR Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Sheriff's Office
- Permit term
- 1 year, nontransferable
- Holding period
- 30 full days
- Exempt sales
- garage, yard, estate sales
- Exempt sale limit
- 4 per year, under 72 hrs
- Denial ground
- theft or fraud conviction
- Appeal window
- 10 days to Hearings Officer
Summary
Anyone buying and reselling used goods in unincorporated Clackamas County, from resale shops to used electronics dealers, needs a Secondhand Dealer's Permit from the Sheriff's Office before opening. Advertising or holding yourself out as buying regulated property is enough to trigger the requirement. Permits run one year, cover a single fixed location, and require a notarized application, fee, and background check.
No person shall act as a Secondhand Dealer in Clackamas County without a valid Secondhand Dealer's Permit issued by the Sheriff's Office. Any person or business that advertises or otherwise holds themself out to be acquiring or offering for sale regulated property within Clackamas County will be presumed to be operating as a Secondhand Dealer subject to the terms of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 8.03 targets businesses that 'process large volumes of goods and materials that are frequently the object of theft' (8.03.010). A Secondhand Dealer must maintain a fixed physical business location (8.03.035) and file a notarized application listing owners, a five-year employment history, prior license history, and a lease or ownership proof, along with a nonrefundable fee set by the Sheriff (8.03.040, 8.03.060). The Sheriff's Office investigates every applicant, principal, and new employee, and must deny a permit if the applicant has had a similar license revoked, been found to run a public nuisance, or been convicted of fraud, deception, dishonesty, or theft (8.03.050(C)).
Permits last one year, are nontransferable, and are valid only for the location listed; a business relocating must notify the Sheriff at least 30 days in advance (8.03.050(E)). Regulated property, everything from precious metals and electronics to power tools and video game consoles, must generally be held 30 full days from acquisition, recorded on a transaction report with the seller's photo ID, thumbprint, and a signed Declaration of Proof of Ownership, and reported to the Sheriff's Pawn Shop Detail at the close of each business day (8.03.080, 8.03.090).
Garage sales, yard sales, and estate sales are exempt if they run no longer than 72 hours and no more than four are held per year (8.03.030(D)).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, refusing to collect required ID and thumbprints, failing to hold regulated property for the mandatory 30 days, or continuing to deal after a suspension or revocation is a County Code violation punishable by a fine the Board of County Commissioners sets by resolution (8.03.110(B)). The Sheriff can issue a citation on the spot, and a dealer has 10 days to pay or appeal to the Hearings Officer (8.03.120).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run occasional garage sales?
How long must a dealer hold used items before reselling them?
What can get a Secondhand Dealer permit denied or revoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clackamas County
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