Minneapolis requires secondhand goods dealers, including thrift stores buying inventory and electronics resellers, to hold a license and report transactions to the Automated Pawn System used by police.
Title 8, Chapter 280 of the Minneapolis Code defines secondhand goods dealers as businesses that purchase used regulated property for resale. Licensees must record seller identification, item descriptions, and serial numbers, then upload daily transactions to the Automated Pawn System (APS) shared with Minneapolis Police. A mandatory hold period of multiple days applies before resale, allowing law enforcement to flag stolen merchandise. Premises inspections, fingerprinting of owners, and background checks are required. Donation-only thrift stores are generally exempt, but stores that pay sellers must comply.
Failing to report transactions, missing hold periods, or knowingly receiving stolen property can lead to license revocation, daily fines, and criminal charges under Minnesota receiving stolen property statutes.
See how Minneapolis's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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