Franklin County, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual fee
- $150 plus square footage charge
- Allowed zones
- C-3 and I-2 only
- Spacing rule
- 1,000 feet between dealers
- Structure rule
- Business must be fully enclosed
- Enforcement
- Planning and Building Department
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Pawn brokers and secondhand dealers in unincorporated Franklin County must register annually with the Planning and Building Department for $150, plus square footage charges. Zoning confines them to the C-3 general business and I-2 general industrial zones only, with a 1,000-foot buffer between existing dealers.
23.Pawn Brokers and Second-Hand Dealers. The registration fee for each pawn broker and second hand dealer shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) plus a square footage charge beyond the three thousand (3,000) square foot minimum allowed as part of the basic registration fee. Pawn brokers and second hand dealers must meet all other county and state laws as part of this application process. ... Pawn shop and secondhand dealers as defined are prohibited from operating in zones in the C-2 (rural service commercial), the C-1 (retail business district), the B-P (business park district) zone, "O" (office district) zone, C-R (regional commercial) zone and any residential zone. Pawn shops and secondhand dealers are permitted to operate in the C-3 (general business district) zone and the I-2 (general industrial district) zone; provided, however no new pawn shops and secondhand dealers' licenses shall be issued to an establishment located closer than one thousand (1,000) feet from an existing pawn shop or secondhand dealer.
Full Breakdown
790), covering used items of any age or condition except stamps, coins, books, reconditioned appliances, compact discs, computer software, trade-ins, used automobiles, unclaimed mechanics-lien goods and antiques. 110). 110(C)(23) at $150 per year plus the county's standard square-footage charge for space beyond the 3,000-square-foot minimum built into the basic registration. Applicants must also satisfy all other county and state licensing requirements before the registration issues. 170 sharply limits where these businesses can operate: pawn shops and secondhand dealers are prohibited outright in the C-2 rural service commercial, C-1 retail business, B-P business park, O office and C-R regional commercial zones, and in every residential zone in the county.
They are permitted only in the C-3 general business district and the I-2 general industrial district, and even there no new pawn shop or secondhand dealer license can be issued within 1,000 feet of an existing one. Every business activity of a C-3-zoned dealer must be conducted entirely inside an enclosed structure. 170).
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required registration is a separate offense for each day of operation and draws a $25-per-day penalty on top of the base fee (§ 5.04.140, § 5.04.150). A general violation of Chapter 5.04, including operating outside the C-3 or I-2 zones or within 1,000 feet of another dealer, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, 90 days in county jail, or both (§ 5.04.160).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a secondhand store anywhere in unincorporated Franklin County?
How much does the county charge to register a secondhand business?
Is there a minimum distance between secondhand dealers?
What happens if I run a secondhand shop without registering?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin County
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