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Sonoma County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

New license fee
$366 plus fingerprint/DOJ fees
Renewal fee
$301 every other year
Issuing agency
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
Effective date
July 1, 2024
Applies to
Unincorporated county only

Summary

Sonoma County requires a Secondhand Dealer License through the Sheriff's Office, costing $366 to apply plus state fingerprint and DOJ fees, with a $301 renewal fee due every other year.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Effective July 1, 2024, the fees for providing the identified services shall be as follows: ... Secondhand Dealer License: New $366.00 (Plus State fingerprint fee and DOJ fees) Renewal $301.00 (Every other year)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office issues Secondhand Dealer Licenses to businesses buying and reselling used merchandise in unincorporated parts of the county. Under Section 2-131 of the county code, a new license costs $366 plus a state fingerprint fee and DOJ fees, and renewal costs $301 every other year. The board of supervisors set these fees, effective July 1, 2024, based on the sheriff's office's analysis of its actual cost of providing the service. Dealers inside the county's nine incorporated cities, including Santa Rosa and Petaluma, apply through their own city police departments instead.

Violations & Fines

Operating without a required license is a code violation; Sonoma County treats violations as misdemeanors punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, per day the violation continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sonoma County require a license to run a secondhand store?
Yes. The Sheriff's Office issues a Secondhand Dealer License under County Code § 2-131, with a $366 new-application fee plus state fingerprint and DOJ costs, and a $301 renewal every other year.
Does this fee apply inside Santa Rosa or Petaluma?
No. The county fee schedule covers unincorporated areas only; secondhand dealers inside incorporated cities like Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and the City of Sonoma license through their own city police departments.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sonoma County

Adult EntertainmentSignificant RestrictionsTattoo & Body ModificationSignificant RestrictionsTobacco Retail LicenseSignificant RestrictionsAuto Repair on Residential PropertyHeavy RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Bird ProtectionSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: MicrochippingSignificant RestrictionsTree Protection: Protected Tree SpeciesSome RestrictionsInvasive Plant Rules: Prohibited SpeciesSome RestrictionsBuilding Safety: Building InspectionsSome Restrictions

All Sonoma County rules

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Secondhand Dealers in Cities Across Sonoma County

Santa Rosa, CAPetaluma, CA