Washoe County, NV Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Hold period
- 15 days before purchased items can be resold
- Fingerprint requirement
- right index finger from every seller
- First-offense fine
- up to $500.00
- Third-offense penalty
- $2,000.00 fine plus license revocation
- Exempt businesses
- auto wreckers, used-book and periodical dealers
Summary
Washoe County requires anyone buying, selling, or trading secondhand goods, antiques, coins, or collectibles to hold a secondhand store license, fingerprint sellers, hold purchased items 15 days before resale, and keep detailed transaction records open to the sheriff. Violations are misdemeanors with fines up to $2,000 and license revocation.
"Secondhand store" means the business, in whole or in part, of buying, selling, or trading metal junk, melted metals or secondhand personal property, other than used books. Secondhand personal property includes, without limitation, antiques, coins, and collectibles. ... Except as provided in this section, no person shall operate or conduct a secondhand store or pawnbroker business in this county without having first obtained a license therefor. ... Any person operating a secondhand store who violates any terms or provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished as follows:(a)For the first offense, by a fine of not more than $500.00.(b)For the second offense, by a fine of not more than $1,000.00.(c)For the third offense, by a fine of not more than $2,000.00 and by revocation of the business license.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
352 defines a "secondhand store" as a business buying, selling, or trading metal junk, melted metals, or secondhand personal property such as antiques, coins, and collectibles, other than used books. 353 makes it unlawful to operate a secondhand store or pawnbroker business without a county license, though stores primarily in auto wrecking or used-book and periodical sales are exempt. 357 requires every secondhand dealer to keep a record of articles purchased, open to inspection by the sheriff's department at any reasonable hour, and to take a legible fingerprint of the right index finger from every seller, along with at least one form of government-issued identification.
3574 bars removing an identifiable purchased item from the place of business for 15 days after the purchase is recorded, though a purchased motor vehicle may be moved to storage during that window and then must remain there for the rest of the 15 days. 3575 makes it unlawful for a secondhand dealer to falsely report to the sheriff, fail to immediately report property reasonably believed lost or stolen, remove held property early, or buy from anyone under 18, a habitual drunkard, drug user, known thief, or a person the dealer has cause to believe is a thief or receiver of stolen property. 0387.
Violations & Fines
A secondhand dealer who operates without a license, skips the required purchase records or seller fingerprints under WCC 25.357, releases held property before the 15-day hold in WCC 25.3574 expires, or buys from a minor or known thief in violation of WCC 25.3575 faces misdemeanor penalties under WCC 25.3579: up to $500.00 for a first offense, $1,000.00 for a second, and $2,000.00 plus license revocation for a third.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must a pawn shop or secondhand store hold purchased items in Washoe County?
What records must a secondhand dealer keep?
What happens if a secondhand dealer buys from a minor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washoe County
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