New Castle County, DE Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Clerk of the Peace
- Retention hold
- 15 days, items unaltered
- Reporting duty scope
- excludes Wilmington and Newark
- Minor sales
- written parental consent required
- Penalty basis
- Section 1.01.009 general penalty
Summary
Anyone buying secondhand gold, silver, or platinum for resale in New Castle County must get a license from the Clerk of the Peace, hold purchased items 15 days, and report every transaction to police.
Secondhand dealer in precious metals means any person who, because he or she trades in secondhand precious metals, is licensed as a junk dealer under 24 Del. C. § 2301 et seq., and any person who purchases secondhand precious metals for either collection or resale. A secondhand dealer in precious metals shall be required to obtain a license from the Clerk of the Peace.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
New Castle County Code Article 3 of Chapter 8 requires anyone who buys secondhand gold, silver, or platinum for collection or resale to hold a license as a secondhand dealer in precious metals, issued by the Clerk of the Peace. Purchased items must be retained unaltered for 15 days, open to police inspection. Recordkeeping and reporting duties apply to dealers within the County but outside Wilmington and Newark, which run their own municipal codes. Covered dealers must log each transaction's seller ID, item description, and price, and file reports with the Police Department. Buying from a minor requires written parental consent; the Clerk of the Peace can suspend or revoke a license for violations or a theft-related conviction.
Violations & Fines
Dealing in secondhand precious metals without a Clerk of the Peace license, buying from a minor without written parental consent, or altering retained items within the 15-day hold can bring license suspension, revocation, or denial, plus penalties under Section 1.01.009.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to buy secondhand gold or silver in New Castle County?
Does this licensing rule apply inside Wilmington or Newark?
How long must a dealer keep purchased items before reselling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
Compare New Castle County to another location·View the Delaware business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.