Haverhill, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Section 167-1 of the Haverhill Code bars anyone from being a dealer in, or keeper of a shop for the purchase, sale or barter of, junk, old metals or secondhand articles, or from going about collecting rags, paper, junk, old metal or other waste matter, without a license granted by the City Council and issued by the City Clerk. Dealers licensed instead under Chapter 187 (pawnbrokers) are exempt, as are those who deal only in secondhand books or furniture under § 167-2. Section 167-4 makes licenses expire every May 1, nontransferable, and revocable at the City Council's pleasure.

Section 167-5 requires every licensed dealer to keep a permanent record book of every purchase, listing the item description, the seller's name, age and residence, and the date and hour, with each item tagged; § 167-6 requires a weekly list of everything acquired delivered to the Chief of Police by noon the following Monday. Section 167-7 requires a conspicuous exterior sign naming the dealer and lets police inspect the shop and its goods at any time. Section 167-8 requires photographing or video-recording every item acquired, keeping that record for 60 days, and lets the Chief of Police issue a 48-hour stop order blocking resale of suspected stolen goods.

Section 167-9 limits business hours to sunrise through 9:00 p.m., with no Sunday business, and § 167-12 bars buying from minors. Section 167-16 separately bars any junk dealer from also holding a license to sell firearms.