Howell, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 245, adopted 11-30-2010 as Ord. No. O-10-26, licenses dealers in precious metals, gems, secondhand goods and pawnbrokering in Howell Township to help the Howell Township Police Department recover stolen goods. Section 245-2 defines a secondhand dealer as anyone buying or selling used goods such as antiques, gold, jewelry, coins, tools, electronics, musical instruments, sporting goods, firearms and cameras, but excludes judicial sales, occasional auction sales of household goods from private homes, real estate auctions and hobby coin or stamp trades by a collector. Under § 245-3, a separate license is needed for each place of business, the number of licenses is limited to six, preexisting licensed dealers can be grandfathered with proof of uninterrupted licensure, and a license is not transferable when a dealer ceases to operate.

The Police Department investigates each applicant for experience, reputation and criminal record, with background checks run through MorphoTrak, and must finish within 30 days. The Chief of Police then recommends, grants or denies to the Township Council, which issues or denies the license contingent on a $10,000 bond under § 245-8. A denied applicant who asks in writing within 10 days gets a hearing before the Township Council. Licenses run January 1 through December 31. Dealers must record seller identification, issue serially numbered receipts, photograph each item, buy nothing from anyone under 18, send receipts to the Police Department within 36 hours, keep records for two years, and hold goods until after the close of business on the 10th day after purchase. Chapter 185 separately licenses junk dealers and caps junkyard licenses at four.