Forsyth County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
- Minimum age to apply
- 21 years old
- Holding period
- 15 days before resale
- Daily report deadline
- 9:00 a.m. next business day
- Record retention
- 4 years, paper transaction forms
- Exempt
- numismatic coin dealers
Summary
Anyone buying precious metals or gems from the public in unincorporated Forsyth County, a classic secondhand-dealer business, must get a sheriff's office permit under section 22-201 before opening, hold every purchased item for 15 days before resale, and file daily electronic transaction reports with fingerprints and photos of sellers.
All persons, before beginning the business of operating a dealership in precious metals and gems, as herein defined, shall first file an application with the sheriff's office for a permit to conduct such business, shall receive such permit, and shall comply with all requirements of this article. This article shall not apply to dealers exclusively engaged in the sale or exchange of numismatic coins or to transactions exclusively involving numismatic coins or other coinage. This article shall not apply to transactions between two individual natural persons, provided that neither of them conducts business as a dealer, as that term is defined in this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 43).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-201 requires anyone operating a dealership in precious metals and gems, meaning buying gold, silver, platinum, or gems from members of the public rather than from manufacturers or other licensed dealers, to first file an application with the sheriff's office and receive a permit. The rule exempts dealers who deal exclusively in numismatic coins, whose value comes from their status as collectibles rather than metal content, and exempts private, non-business transactions between two individuals. citizen. Section 22-206 blocks a permit for anyone whose prior dealer permit was revoked elsewhere, who was convicted of a related violation in the past year, who supplied false information, who owes the county fees, or who lacks ownership or a signed one-year lease on the business premises.
Section 22-216 requires dealers to keep a description of every item purchased, including manufacturer, identifying marks and material, available for law enforcement inspection at any time. covering the prior 24 hours, with a fingerprint scan and photo ID from every seller and a digital photo of each item, and paper transaction records kept on premises for four years. Section 22-218 bars a dealer from disposing of any purchased precious metal or gem for 15 days after acquisition, giving law enforcement a window to identify stolen property, and section 22-219 makes it unlawful to buy from anyone 17 or younger.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a precious metals or gems dealer without a section 22-201 permit, or failing to comply with the required daily electronic reports, fingerprinting, or 15-day holding period, violates the article. Section 22-222 makes any violation subject to citation returnable to Forsyth County Magistrate Court, with fines and imprisonment set under section 1-12 of the county code, on top of permit revocation or suspension under section 22-208.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to buy gold jewelry from customers in Forsyth County?
How long must a dealer hold onto purchased jewelry before reselling it?
What does a Forsyth County precious metals dealer have to report to the sheriff?
Can a dealer buy items from a minor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
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