Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Anne Arundel County, MD Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License required
Yes, from Dept. of Inspections and Permits
First license fee
$250, plus $50 per extra worker
Item hold period
30 days before resale
Insurance minimums
$300,000 liability / $100,000 property
License expires
September 30 annually

Summary

Anne Arundel County requires a Second-Hand Dealer License from the Department of Inspections and Permits before buying and reselling used goods, with a background-based fitness standard, mandatory daily police reporting, and a 30-day hold on purchased items.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Anne Arundel County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A person may not do business as a second-hand dealer without a license issued by the Department. ... The fee for a second-hand dealer's license for the first individual licensed to work as a second-hand dealer is $250. The fee for each additional individual licensed at the same location is $50. ... A second-hand dealer's license expires on September 30 of each year.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).

Full Breakdown

County Code § 11-12A-101 defines a second-hand dealer as anyone who commercially buys from and sells to the public, excluding pawnbrokers, antique dealers, charities, garage sales, consignment shops, and auctions. A license costs $250 for the first individual and $50 for each additional employee at the same location, requires $300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage coverage, and expires every September 30. Applicants with fraud, racketeering, or moral-turpitude records are disqualified. Dealers must electronically report each day's purchases to the Police Department by 10 a.m. the next business day and hold every item 30 days before resale under § 11-12A-102 and § 11-12A-103.

Violations & Fines

Violating this title is a Class D civil offense: $125 for a first violation, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or later, and it is separate cause for the Department to revoke the dealer's license.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to resell used goods in Anne Arundel County, including in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Yes. Anne Arundel County Code § 11-12A-101 requires a Second-Hand Dealer License countywide, including in unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie and Severna Park, which have no separate government.
How long must a second-hand dealer hold purchased items before reselling?
30 days from the date the purchase was reported to the Police Department, per § 11-12A-103, unless it's redeemed by the original seller.
What happens if a second-hand dealer doesn't report purchases daily?
It's a Class D civil offense ($125-$1,000 in escalating fines under § 9-1-101) and separate cause for the County to revoke the dealer's license under § 11-12A-101(h).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Anne Arundel County

All Anne Arundel County rules

Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland business licensing & operations overview

Get notified when Secondhand Dealers in Anne Arundel County, MD changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Secondhand Dealers in Cities Across Anne Arundel County