Lawrence, KS Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- jewelry, bullion, coins, silverware buyers
- License types
- P (1 yr), T (60 hrs), D (show duration)
- Register kept
- in ink, at place of business
- ID required from seller
- driver's license number
- Exempt transactions
- $50.00 or under
- Max penalty
- $1,000.00 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
In the City of Lawrence, anyone who buys jewelry, bullion, coins, or silverware for resale must register with the chief of police, keep a detailed handwritten purchase register for every item bought, and hold a Type P, T, or D valuable property dealer license.
Valuable property means any jewelry, bullion, coins, silverware. Valuable property dealer means any person who buys for selling purposes or who advertises in any way for the purchase of jewelry, bullion, coins, silverware. ... It shall be the duty of every valuable property dealer to: (a)Register with the chief of police and thereby obtain a license to operate as such;(b)Keep at the place of business a register, furnished by the chief of police, in which the dealer shall enter in ink with a legible hand a detailed description of all personal property purchased or received by the valuable property dealer immediately upon the purchase of any chattels or personal property.
Full Breakdown
Lawrence City Code Article X (Ch. 6) regulates "valuable property dealers," defined as anyone buying or advertising to buy jewelry, bullion, coins, or silverware for resale. There are three license types: Type "P" for dealers with a permanent address, valid one year; Type "T" for dealers at a temporary address, valid 60 hours; and Type "D" for coin show sponsors, valid for the show's duration. Every dealer must register with the chief of police and keep, at the place of business, a police-furnished register recording in ink a detailed description of every item purchased, including identifying marks, the seller's name and driver's license number, the amount paid, and the date and time.
The register and the purchased articles must be shown to any law enforcement officer on request. Dealers may not buy from an intoxicated person or accept property they have reason to believe is stolen, and may not buy from anyone under 18 without a parent or guardian present or written parental approval. 00 bond. 00 or less are exempt from the register requirement, as are certain bulk transfers between registered dealers.
Violations & Fines
Giving false information on a required form is itself a violation under section 6-1010. Any violation of the article is a misdemeanor under section 6-1012, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00, imprisonment in the city jail for up to six months, or both, with each day a violation continues or is permitted to continue treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do coin and jewelry dealers need a special license in Lawrence, Kansas?
What records must a Lawrence valuable property dealer keep on each purchase?
Can a Lawrence dealer buy from someone who appears intoxicated or underage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
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