Dublin, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Chief of Police
- State law referenced
- Bus. & Prof. Code § 21500 et seq.
- Renewal fee
- Set by City Council resolution
- Also required
- Compliance with city zoning provisions
- Default penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Anyone running a secondhand-goods or junk-dealer business in Dublin, California must follow California Business and Professions Code Section 21500 et seq. and obtain a license and renewal license from the Chief of Police under Dublin Municipal Code Chapter 4.12. The city license sits on top of the state licensing scheme and the zoning provisions that govern where the business can operate.
A. Anyone wishing to conduct the business of secondhand dealer or junk dealer within the city shall comply with the requirements of state law (Business and Professions Code Division 8, Chapter 9, Section 21500 et seq.) and the zoning provisions of the Dublin Municipal Code. Any such person wishing to conduct the business of secondhand dealer shall obtain a license and renewal license from the Chief of Police in accordance with the provisions of Business and Professions Code Sections 21641 and 21642.
B. The amount of any license renewal fee for conducting such business shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2-26, passed March 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
, and to obtain a license and renewal license from the Chief of Police in accordance with Business and Professions Code Sections 21641 and 21642, which govern secondhand dealer registration and recordkeeping statewide. The dealer must also comply with the zoning provisions of the Dublin Municipal Code that control where such a business may locate. 020(B) leaves the dollar amount of the license renewal fee to a resolution of the City Council rather than fixing it in the code itself, so the fee can be adjusted without a code amendment.
, but that is a separate license track from secondhand dealing. 030, which lets the city charge violations as either an infraction or a misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 4.12 has no dealer-specific penalty, so a violation defaults to DMC 1.04.030: a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in County Jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, unless the enforcement officer or City Attorney elects to charge it as an infraction. A second infraction of the same section within 12 months can support a hardship waiver request, and a third within 12 months may be charged as a misdemeanor. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues a secondhand dealer license in Dublin, California?
Does complying with state secondhand-dealer law remove the need for a Dublin license?
How much does a Dublin secondhand dealer license renewal cost?
What happens if someone operates a secondhand or junk business in Dublin without the required license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dublin
California rules heatmap·Compare Dublin to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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Secondhand Dealers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle secondhand dealers.