Huntington Beach, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Junk dealer/auto wrecker fee
- $187.50 annual license tax
- Junk collector fee
- $187.50 annual or $40.00 daily
- Issuing office
- City Treasurer, City of Huntington Beach
- Zoning prerequisite
- Must present required zoning permits first
- Separate licenses
- Required for each branch yard/location
- Unlicensed operation penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine/6 months jail
Summary
Buying, selling or dismantling used metal, parts or scrap in Huntington Beach as a junk dealer or auto wrecker requires an annual business license taxed at $187.50 under Municipal Code Section 5.16.170; a junk collector who merely gathers rags, bottles, cans and other junk pays the same $187.50 annual fee or $40.00 for a single day under Section 5.16.160.
§ 5.16.170. Junk Dealer and Auto Wrecking. For every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of junk dealer or auto wrecker, the fee shall be: $187.50 A. § 5.16.160. Junk Collector. For every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of junk collector, the fee shall be: $187.50 A Or at the option of the licensee: $40.00 D
Full Breakdown
010 defines an 'auto wrecker' as any person who buys motor vehicles to dismantle or disassemble them, or who deals in vehicle parts or materials from wrecked vehicles, and a 'junk collector' as anyone, other than a junk dealer, who buys or sells rags, bottles, papers, cans, metal or other articles of junk. 00 for a single day. 010 makes it unlawful to operate either business in the City without first securing that license. 360 blocks the City Treasurer from issuing the license unless the operator presents all required zoning permits for the location, since junk and auto-wrecking yards are subject to the City's zoning code.
290 lets the City Treasurer, code enforcement officers, and police officers enter any licensed junk or wrecking business at any reasonable time, free of charge, to demand the license be shown.
Violations & Fines
Running a junk dealer, auto wrecking, or junk collection business in Huntington Beach without the required license, or refusing to show it to a police officer or code enforcement officer on demand, is a misdemeanor under Sections 5.08.290 and 5.08.370, carrying a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. The City Treasurer can also suspend or revoke the license under Section 5.08.300 if operations become detrimental to public health or safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Huntington Beach require a license to run a junk or auto wrecking business?
How much does a junk collector license cost in Huntington Beach?
Can Huntington Beach deny a junk dealer license over zoning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
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