Bernalillo County, NM Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Surety bond
- $10,000 bond required
- Daily reports
- Sheriff report due within 3 days
- Merchandise hold
- 15-day hold on purchased items
- Pawn hold
- 120-day hold before sale
- Enforcement
- County manager can revoke license
Summary
Bernalillo County requires pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers and precious metals dealers in unincorporated areas to get a business registration certificate and post a $10,000 bond before opening, with daily transaction reporting to the sheriff.
No pawnbroker, secondhand or precious metals dealer shall engage in business without a business registration certificate. ... No pawnbroker, secondhand or precious metals dealer shall engage in business without having executed and delivered a bond to the county ... in the penal sum of $10,000.00, with a corporate surety authorized by the laws of the state to write surety bonds therein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 14, Article VI of the Bernalillo County Code, no pawnbroker, secondhand dealer or precious metals dealer may operate in the unincorporated county without a business registration certificate and a $10,000 surety bond approved by the county manager and sheriff. Dealers must photo-ID every seller, log each item's description and serial number, and deliver a daily transaction report to the sheriff within three days. Purchased used merchandise must sit untouched for 15 days, and pawned items cannot be sold for 120 days. The county manager can suspend or revoke a license after a hearing, with appeal to the Second Judicial District Court.
Violations & Fines
Operating without registration, bond or required reports is a misdemeanor enforceable under Bernalillo County Code § 1-6; the county manager can suspend or revoke a dealer's license for violations after a hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to run a pawnshop in Bernalillo County?
How long must a secondhand dealer hold purchased items before reselling?
Does this apply if my shop is in Albuquerque?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.