Kenosha, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

C requires anyone who primarily buys or sells secondhand articles, such as electronics, tools, furniture, or musical instruments, to hold a secondhand article dealer's license, while Subsection D separately requires a secondhand jewelry dealer's license for anyone buying, selling, or exchanging secondhand jewelry. A dealer operating only inside a licensed flea market or dealer mall under Subsection K need not obtain an individual license. Annual fees under Subsection H are $100 for the article dealer's license and $500 for the jewelry dealer's license, both running January 1 through December 31; a separate two-year secondhand article dealer mall or flea market license costs $165.

Applicants undergo the same background check as pawnbrokers, with the Kenosha Police Department investigating any felony conviction within 10 years or relevant misdemeanor within 5 years and the City Attorney recommending action to the Committee on Licenses/Permits. Every transaction requires the dealer to obtain photo identification from the customer, photograph or video the customer and the item, and record the transaction on a City or state form retained for at least one year and available to law enforcement on demand. c), shortened to 10 days if the dealer is required to and does submit an electronic transaction report, giving investigators time to match items against stolen-property reports before resale.