Hemet, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Under § 18-45(a), it is unlawful to "transact and carry on any business, trade, profession, calling or occupation in the city" without first securing a license and paying the fee this article prescribes; failure to comply is a separate ground for enforcement apart from any state licensing a secondhand dealer must also carry. 00 per year, a flat charge rather than one scaled to gross receipts or employee counts as many other retail licenses are. A resale, consignment or secondhand store operating from more than one location in the city needs a separate license for each branch, with the fee computed as though each location were an independent business (§ 18-45(b)(1)-(2)); where a business could be classified under more than one fee category, § 18-45(b)(3) requires using whichever classification yields the higher fee.

Licenses expire December 31 following issuance for annual fees, or at the close of the quarter for new businesses licensed on the quarterly cycle (§ 18-35). The license collector and deputies are empowered to enter the licensed premises at any reasonable time to demand the license be exhibited (§ 18-49(g)(1)), and the license itself must be posted conspicuously on-site (§ 18-49(d)(1)). The city council can revoke a secondhand dealer's license "for what it may deem good and sufficient reasons" tied to preserving peace, health, safety or general welfare, but only after a hearing before a council quorum on at least ten days' written notice to the licensee (§ 18-49(h)); the fire chief, police chief, health officer, building inspector, streets supervisor or council may impose an interim suspension of up to 15 days pending that hearing (§ 18-49(i)). A denial, non-renewal, suspension or revocation may be appealed in writing to the city clerk within 15 calendar days of mailed notice (§ 18-50(a)).