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Hampton, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

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

Key Facts

License consequence
revocable after 2nd conviction
Record retention
24 months
Item hold period
15 days minimum
Daily police report due
1:00 p.m.

Summary

Hampton doesn't gate a secondhand dealer's business license behind a special permit, but chapter 27 lets a judge revoke or suspend it after a second conviction for violating the dealer's recordkeeping and reporting duties.

(a)Unless otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, a violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.(b)In addition to any penalty that may be imposed for a violation of this chapter, upon the second conviction of any pawnbroker or secondhand dealer for a violation of this chapter, the judge of a court of competent jurisdiction may, at his discretion, revoke or suspend the license of the offender.

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 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

Hampton City Code § 27-2 makes any violation of chapter 27 a Class 4 misdemeanor and, on a second conviction against a secondhand dealer, lets a judge revoke or suspend that dealer's business license at his discretion. Unlike pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers face no separate circuit-court certification before licensing, but chapter 27 still ties license standing to strict operating compliance: dealers must record every transaction with photo ID and item images, verify sellers are 18 or older and the true owner, hold acquired goods at least 15 days, and report daily to the chief of police by 1:00 p.m. under §§ 27-1, 27-6 through 27-10.

Violations & Fines

A second conviction for violating chapter 27's recordkeeping, hold-period or daily-reporting duties lets a judge revoke or suspend a secondhand dealer's license under § 27-2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hampton require a special license for secondhand dealers?
No separate certificate like pawnbrokers face, but § 27-2 lets a judge revoke or suspend a dealer's regular business license after a second chapter 27 conviction.
What records must a Hampton secondhand dealer keep?
Dealers must log seller ID, item details and daily transaction reports to police, retained for 24 months under § 27-6 and § 27-9.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hampton

All Hampton rules

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