Erie, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Pennsylvania's regulatory framework for secondhand dealers operates on two parallel tracks. (1) Pawnbrokers are licensed under the Pawnbrokers License Act of 1937 (63 P.S. §281-1 et seq.), administered by the PA Department of Banking and Securities. Pawnbrokers must post a $5,000 surety bond, charge interest within statutory limits, keep detailed loan records, and provide a redemption period of at least 1 month before sale. (2) Precious-metals dealers (gold, silver, platinum buyers; coin shops; jewelers buying scrap) are regulated under the Precious Metals Sales Act, 73 P.S. §1932 et seq. Dealers must register with the Pennsylvania State Police using Form SP4-302, hold purchased items for a minimum of 7 days at the registered premises before resale or melt, maintain transaction records (seller ID, description, price, photograph) for at least 4 years, and submit transaction reports to the State Police and to the local police department of jurisdiction - in Erie, the Erie Bureau of Police. The seller must produce a government-issued photo ID and sign a sworn statement of ownership. Erie does not have a stand-alone municipal pawnshop ordinance beyond the city's general business-licensing chapter, but every secondhand dealer must hold an Erie Business Privilege License from the City Treasurer and pay the Business Privilege & Mercantile Tax. Erie Police use the LeadsOnline web service and the PA state precious-metals database for stolen-goods detection. Used-goods stores in Erie must also satisfy zoning - some adult-oriented or industrial-sales uses are conditional in the Zoning Ordinance.