Kent, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

010 defines a second-hand dealer as anyone engaged, in whole or part, in purchasing, selling, trading, consignment selling or otherwise transferring second-hand property, including metal junk, melted metals and precious metals, and expressly extends the term to flea market or swap meet sellers who do so more than three times a year. Second-hand property covers any used item offered for sale, with narrow carve-outs for legal-tender coin, hallmarked bullion bars, and used books and clothing worth $75 or less. 070, property a second-hand dealer with a permanent place of business buys or takes on consignment cannot leave that place of business, except when returned to the owner, for 30 days after receipt, and must be open to inspection by any commissioned law enforcement officer during ordinary business hours; a dealer without a permanent Kent location must instead hold the property within the city for that same 30-day window.

030 requires every second-hand dealer to keep a written log of each transaction: the customer's signature, date of birth, address, government-issued ID number, a full item description, and the price paid, retained for three years at the place of business and open to police inspection. 050 requires holding it intact and tagged for 120 days. 120 excludes licensed motor vehicle dealers and wreckers, trade-in allowances toward other merchandise, and dealers who only buy or sell empty food and beverage containers or junk from the chapter.