Minneapolis, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License
- Secondhand goods dealer license required
- Class A bond
- $5,000 surety bond required
- Holding period
- 30-day hold before resale
- Reporting
- Daily police reporting, Class A
- Enforcer
- Police license inspector
Summary
Anyone buying, consigning, or reselling secondhand goods in Minneapolis must hold a secondhand goods dealer license under Chapter 321, with Class A dealers posting a $5,000 bond and reporting high-risk transactions to police daily.
No person shall engage in the business of secondhand goods without a secondhand goods license. No secondhand goods license may be transferred to a different location or a different person. Licenses shall be conspicuously displayed. Issuance of a license under this article shall not relieve the licensee from obtaining any other licenses required to conduct business at the same or any other locations. A secondhand goods dealer licensed under this article shall also obtain a precious metal dealer's license if required to do so under Chapter 322. Persons licensed under Chapter 324 shall not be eligible for a license under this chapter for the same location. (98-Or-059, § 1, 6-26-98; 2015-Or-054, § 3, 7-10-15)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances Chapter 321 requires anyone dealing in secondhand goods, resale, consignment, or trade of used property, to hold a secondhand goods dealer license (§ 321.20). Dealers are classified by volume: Class A dealers submit 400 or more reportable transactions a year and must post a $5,000 bond (§ 321.90); Class B dealers fall below that threshold. Every recordable transaction requires a logged seller ID, item description, and price (§ 321.100), and reportable items, firearms, precious metals and gems, electronics, bicycles, musical instruments, must be held 30 days and reported daily to police before resale (§§ 321.110, 321.140).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, skipping required transaction records, or selling reportable items before the 30-day hold expires can bring license denial, suspension, or revocation under § 321.190, plus billable-transaction fee penalties for late reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do garage sales need a secondhand dealer license in Minneapolis?
How long must a Minneapolis secondhand dealer hold an item before reselling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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