Hartford secondhand and precious metal dealers must register with the police department and electronically report all purchases under Connecticut General Statutes section 21-40 to deter trafficking in stolen goods.
Connecticut General Statutes section 21-40 requires every dealer in secondhand goods, including precious metals, jewelry, electronics, and collectibles, to register with the local police department before transacting. Hartford Police Department oversees registration under Hartford Municipal Code chapter 17. Registered dealers must record each purchase with seller identification, photograph or describe each item, and upload entries within 24 hours to the statewide LeadsOnline database. Dealers must hold acquired items at least 10 days before resale, melting, or alteration. Antique and vintage shops handling pre-1900 items receive limited exemptions under state regulation.
Unregistered dealer, missing electronic reports, premature resale, no seller identification recorded, melting before hold period ends, refusing police inspection.
See how Hartford's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.