Des Moines, IA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Des Moines Municipal Code § 30-247 requires anyone carrying on the business of salvage dealer, buying, selling, storing, or transferring junk, scrap metal, or used vehicle parts, to obtain a salvage dealer's license from the city clerk before operating. Licenses expire every June 30 and require a nonrefundable application fee set by council resolution. Section 30-254 forces dealers to log every purchase: the seller's name, address, date of birth, driver's license or ID number, and a description of the item, retained on-site for at least a year. The police chief can order dealers to segregate specific items for up to 45 days, and inoperable vehicles can't be dismantled for at least seven days after receipt.