Secondhand dealers in Miami-Dade must register with the Sheriff under Florida Statute 538, hold a county Local Business Tax Receipt, and report all transactions daily to the LeadsOnline electronic database used by MDPD detectives.
Florida Chapter 538 governs secondhand dealers buying jewelry, electronics, tools, and similar goods. Each dealer must obtain a state registration, photograph sellers' IDs, fingerprint sellers, and hold purchased items 15 days before resale. Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) requires daily electronic reporting through LeadsOnline so investigators can trace stolen property. Local Business Tax Receipts are issued under Chapter 8A. Pawnbrokers follow stricter rules under FL §539.001. Failure to report or hold inventory exposes the dealer to license suspension and felony charges if stolen goods are resold.
Failure to register, missing daily reports, or reselling within 15 days is a first-degree misdemeanor under FL §538.04. Repeated violations can become a third-degree felony.
See how Homestead's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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