Livonia, MI Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

76 of the Code of Ordinances covers any dealer who purchases, stores, resells, exchanges or receives secondhand merchandise from the public, including appliances, electronics, tools, construction equipment and guns; it excludes automobiles, rags, books, clothing (except furs and leather) and scrap metal. 030. The applicant and every employee must be fingerprinted and photographed, and the department runs whatever background investigation it deems necessary; the chief of police can deny an unqualified applicant, with an appeal to the city council within 20 days of refusal. Once issued, the certificate must be posted in a conspicuous place in the store and is valid for one year unless revoked.

040 requires a triplicate record-of-transaction form for every item received: date and time, the seller's name, date of birth, driver's license or state ID number and address, a right-thumb print, a description of the merchandise including serial numbers, and the price paid. The dealer sends the original to police within 48 hours and keeps a copy for at least one year. 050 requires the dealer to hold purchased merchandise unaltered for 15 calendar days before reselling or removing it, unless the chief of police authorizes otherwise. m. Dealers may never lend money or credit on secondhand goods or buy an item with its serial number removed.