Columbia County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Columbia County regulates secondhand buyers of jewelry, coins, and scrap metal as "dealers in precious metals or gems" under Chapter 22, Article VI, defined in Sec. 22-97 as anyone at a permanent location buying such goods from sources other than manufacturers or other dealers for resale in original, melted, or scrap form. Sec. 22-117 requires a permanent record of every purchase capturing the date and time, the seller's name, age, and address, a distinctive number from the seller's driver's license or other photo ID, a photocopy of that ID, a digital photo of the seller, a digital right-thumb fingerprint uploaded to the sheriff's electronic system, a description of the goods with serial or model numbers and a digital photograph, the price paid, the check number if paid by check, and the seller's signature; Sec.

22-117(b) requires this record kept electronically on the sheriff-run reporting system. Sec. 22-118 folds dealers into the same daily electronic reporting deadline that applies to pawnshops, within one hour of closing, and lets the sheriff's office authorize a theft victim who presents an incident report to inspect the reports at the sheriff's office. Sec. 22-119 separately bars altering, melting, or reselling purchased items until ten business days have passed, and bars buying from anyone under 17. Sec. 22-120 exempts industrial producers, manufacturers, licensed distributors, dealers who trade exclusively in numismatic coins, consignment stores reselling clothing and children's items, and secondhand book dealers from the whole article.

Sec. 22-121 extends the same recordkeeping and reporting duties to itinerant dealers in precious metals or gems, though wholesalers who deal only with other mercantile establishments or manufacturers are excluded.