Louisville, KY Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- Dept. of Specialty Permits and Licenses
- Daily report deadline
- 11:00 a.m. the next day
- Unlicensed operation fine
- $100–$1,000 civil penalty
- Recordkeeping violation
- Class B misdemeanor, up to 90 days
- Record retention
- On-site for at least 1 year
Summary
Secondhand dealers operating in Louisville Metro must hold a license from the Department of Specialty Permits and Licenses and log every purchase, item photo, seller ID, and digital thumbprint, to a police-accessible database by 11 a.m. the next day.
Except as provided in subsection (F) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, or secondary metals recycler to engage in business within Louisville/Jefferson County except when licensed by the Department under this section and in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(B) Before commencing business within Louisville/Jefferson County, each business required to be licensed under this section shall make application in writing and under oath to the Department and shall pay the required license fees.
(C) Businesses licensed under this section shall be required to maintain a separate license for each business location.
(D) The Director of the Department may set and enforce rules and regulations deemed necessary for the orderly and complete administration of this chapter which are not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this chapter. A copy of the administrative regulations as promulgated by the Director of the Department shall be available for public inspection in the offices of the Department.
(E) The Director of the Department is authorized to establish and promulgate a reasonable schedule and classifications of fees for pawnbroker and secondhand dealer licenses and permits as shall be issued pursuant to this chapter. For secondary metals recyclers, the annual fee for licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall be $625 per each business location,
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
LMCO § 123.03 makes it unlawful for any secondhand dealer to engage in business in Louisville/Jefferson County without a license from the Department, which can deny or revoke a license for a criminal history involving pecuniary crimes. Under § 123.21-.22, any dealer who regularly buys regulated property or restricted metals must log each purchase, date, price, digital photo, seller's photo ID, signature, and digital thumbprint, and upload it by 11:00 a.m. the next day to an online transaction-recording service accessible to Louisville Metro Police. Records must be kept on-site for at least one year, and § 123.23 bars any purchase from a minor outright.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license under § 123.03 draws a $100-$1,000 civil fine. Skipping the recordkeeping and daily police-reporting duties in § 123.22 is a Class B misdemeanor: up to $250 and 90 days in jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do secondhand stores in Louisville need a license?
What must a Louisville secondhand dealer record on each purchase?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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