Fullerton, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Chief of Police
- Initial fee
- $100
- Renewal fee
- $25 per year
- Item hold period
- 30 days before resale
- Prohibited hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Appeal window
- 15 days after notice
- Violation penalty
- Misdemeanor
Summary
Fullerton requires a police-issued permit before anyone can run a secondhand store, buying or reselling used goods. Fullerton Municipal Code § 3.52.060 puts the Chief of Police in charge of issuing, investigating and revoking these permits, backed by a $100 initial application fee and $25 renewal. Dealers must hold every purchased item for 30 days and file daily reports on incoming merchandise.
(A) Requirement; fee. No person shall engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of a pawnbroker, junk dealer, junk collector, rubbish collector or secondhand dealer, or deal in secondhand merchandise, either as a business or as a part of any other business, without first applying for and receiving a permit therefor from the Chief of Police. The permit shall be issued by the Chief of Police, but only after having filed an application for a permit to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of a pawnbroker, junk dealer, junk collector, rubbish collector or secondhand dealer, or deal in secondhand merchandise, either as a business or as a part of any other business. The initial application shall be accompanied by a fee of $100 to be paid to the City Treasurer to cover the cost of investigation for each permit applied for pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and a renewal fee of $25.
Full Breakdown
52 of the Fullerton Code of Ordinances licenses secondhand dealers alongside pawnbrokers, junk dealers, junk collectors and rubbish collectors under one permit scheme administered by the Chief of Police. 060(A), no one may deal in secondhand merchandise, as a standalone business or as part of another business, without first applying for and receiving a police permit. 060(B), must list the applicant's residence and business address, any prior permit denials or revocations from any jurisdiction, prior criminal convictions, a passport-style photograph taken within 60 days, and fingerprints along with two character references from county property owners.
070 to complete the background investigation and either grant or deny the permit. 180, hold every purchased or received article for 30 days before reselling or otherwise disposing of it. 150 requires the dealer to keep a duplicate English-language record open to police inspection during business hours. m. 080 for false statements, fraud, prior related convictions, or conduct threatening public safety.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a secondhand dealer without a Chief of Police permit, or failing to file the required daily reports or observe the 30-day hold on merchandise, is unlawful under § 3.52.170 and punishable as a misdemeanor under § 3.52.260. The Chief of Police can revoke or suspend a permit under § 3.52.080 for false statements or fraud; a denied or revoked applicant may appeal to the City Manager within 15 days under § 3.52.130, with further review available from the City Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to open a secondhand store in Fullerton?
How long must a Fullerton secondhand dealer hold items before reselling them?
What happens if the Chief of Police denies or revokes my secondhand dealer permit?
What hours can a Fullerton secondhand dealer operate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fullerton
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