Knoxville, TN Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Section 16-206 of the Knoxville Code of Ordinances states it is "unlawful for any person to engage in any activity subject to regulation by this article without first registering with and obtaining a permit from the chief of police," adding that the permit "shall be in addition to a business license" and does not apply to pawnbrokers, who are licensed separately. "Dealer" under Section 16-181 covers anyone regularly buying, selling, bartering or exchanging junk, antiques, secondhand articles, jewelry, coins, gold or silver, but excludes state-licensed scrap metal dealers.

Section 16-207 requires a written, fingerprinted application to the chief of police with a fifty dollar ($50.00) fee, renewed annually for another fifty dollars; the chief must act within ten (10) days under Section 16-208, and may deny an application if the applicant or a partner or officer has a felony or moral-turpitude conviction reflecting unfavorably on fitness for the business. Once permitted, a dealer must keep a consecutively numbered transaction record under Section 16-184 describing each item bought, along with the seller's name, address, driver's license number and physical description, retained for two years; dealers buying jewelry, coins or precious metals must also photograph each item and keep the photos for two years. Section 16-185 requires mailing or delivering that same information to the chief of police the day after each purchase. Section 16-186 lets any police officer inspect a dealer's premises, books and inventory during business hours, and Section 16-187 bars melting, altering or reselling a purchased article for thirty (30) days after receipt, so it stays available for inspection. Section 16-209 lets the chief revoke or suspend a permit for a violation of the article or a disqualifying conviction, with judicial review of that decision available under Section 16-210.