Jersey City, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License classes
- Class A / Class B
- General license term
- calendar year, expires Dec 31
- Temporary license
- 30 days
- Bond required
- $1,500
- Purchase curfew
- no buys 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
- Resale hold
- 30 business days after acquisition
Summary
Anyone dealing in secondhand goods in Jersey City needs a Class A or Class B license under § 275-3, issued by the Director of Commerce. General licenses run the calendar year and expire December 31; temporary licenses cover 30 days for dealers without a permanent local business. Both require a $1,500 bond, fingerprinting, and a criminal background check before issuance.
SECONDHAND DEALER - CLASS A — Any person who deals in the purchase or sale of secondhand items, as follows: Items of every kind, e.g. furniture, clothes, toys, but not those items specifically listed under Secondhand Dealer - Class B. (§ 275-1) ... § 275-3.A: It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a dealer in secondhand articles without either a Class A or B license therefor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
Section 275-1 splits dealers into Class A, everyday goods like furniture, clothes and toys, and Class B, which covers precious metals, melting-grade metals, pawn tickets/pledged articles, and items such as paintings, coins, stamps and electronics. § 501 are exempt from the fee. No license issues to anyone convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or dishonesty, or whose license was revoked in the past year. Section 275-10 requires every dealer to log each transaction electronically with the seller's description, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color, employer and thumbprint, and to verify identity with two forms of ID.
, and bars reselling any item for 30 business days after acquiring it (antiques dealers get a shorter hold if records are kept). Transaction records stay open to inspection by Public Safety and the Division of Commerce.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 275, operating without a license, buying from a minor, buying during the overnight curfew, or reselling before the 30-day hold expires, is punishable under § 275-16 with a minimum $100 fine and automatic forfeiture of the license on conviction; the city may also sue for an injunction to stop continued violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What license does a Jersey City secondhand shop need?
Can a Jersey City secondhand dealer buy from a minor or resell right away?
What records does the dealer have to keep on each sale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jersey City
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