Placer County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Placer County Sheriff
- Merchandise holding period
- 20 days minimum before resale
- Daily report deadline
- Before 10 a.m. each business day
- Closed hours
- Sundays, holidays, 7 p.m.-8 a.m.
- Revocation bar
- 6 months before re-licensing allowed
- Records requirement
- English, chronological book form
Summary
Anyone who buys, sells, or otherwise deals in secondhand goods in unincorporated Placer County, including car radios, must hold a valid sheriff-issued license under County Code Article 5.28. Dealers must hold merchandise for 20 days before resale, file a daily report of every transaction with the sheriff, and cannot operate on Sundays, legal holidays, or between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer without having a valid, existing and unrevoked license therefor.
Full Breakdown
070. 010 as anyone buying, selling, or dealing in secondhand goods, wares, and merchandise, including car radios, though the definition excludes secondhand household furniture and furnishings such as beds, tables, chairs, and kitchenware. 020, every item a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer purchases or receives must be held for at least 20 days before resale and kept separate from other stock, available for police inspection during business hours throughout the holding period. on Saturdays, days before holidays, and during the 24 hours before Christmas. each day (except Sundays and holidays) describing every item purchased or received in the prior 24 hours, along with a description of the seller and their vehicle.
140. 030 directs the sheriff to hold a hearing and, if the claim is valid, order the property returned to the claimant without compensation to the dealer.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or allowing an unlicensed person to deal in secondhand goods on your premises, is a misdemeanor under § 5.28.100. Failing to file the daily report, or refusing to exhibit records or merchandise to the sheriff on demand, violates § 5.28.150. Any violation of Article 5.28 can trigger license revocation under § 5.28.080 after a sheriff's hearing under § 5.28.090, barring re-licensing for six months, in addition to the general penalties of Article 1.24.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to operate a secondhand store in unincorporated Placer County?
How long must a secondhand dealer hold merchandise before reselling it?
What hours can a secondhand dealer or pawnbroker operate?
What happens if a dealer fails to file the required daily report?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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