Fargo, ND Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License
- Required per fixed premises
- Bond
- $5,000 minimum
- Holding period
- 14 days before resale
- Reporting
- Daily via LEADS system
- Unlicensed operation
- Class B misdemeanor
Summary
Fargo requires anyone buying, trading, or selling secondhand goods for profit to hold a city license, post a $5,000 bond, and report every purchase to police through the LEADS system.
No person shall engage in business as a secondhand dealer unless said person has a fixed premises where said business is conducted, either on a continuing basis or from time to time, and unless said person has first obtained a license to engage in that business at that premises. A separate license is required for each place of business. The city may issue more than one license to a person if the person complies with the requirements of the chapter. A license issued under this article shall be prominently displayed at the licensed premises during hours when such premises is open for business. If, during the effective period of a license issued under this article, a licensee changes the location of the licensed premises within the city, such licensee shall inform the city auditor and the chief of police of such change of location and shall have the new premises to be licensed noted on the license. There shall be no additional fee charged for changing the location of the licensed premises. The operation of a business as a secondhand dealer without a license as required by this section shall be a class B misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
Under Article 25-35 of the Fargo Municipal Code, secondhand dealers, shops buying used electronics, tools, jewelry, musical instruments, and similar goods, need a fixed-premises license from the city, a $5,000 bond, and must log every reportable transaction with the seller's ID and signature. Purchased items must sit unsold in Fargo for 14 days, and licensees upload daily transaction records to police via the LEADS system so investigators can trace stolen property. Casual garage sales, antique/used-furniture stores, and nonprofit sales are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a secondhand dealer without a license is a class B misdemeanor. The city commission can also suspend or revoke a license for rule violations, fraud in the application, or a theft- or felony-related conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Fargo pawn shop need this same license?
How long must a Fargo secondhand dealer hold purchased items?
Can minors sell items to a licensed secondhand dealer in Fargo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fargo
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