Mobile, AL Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration
- Register with chief of police before opening
- Holding period
- 15 days before resale or alteration
- Records
- Serially numbered purchase book required
- Daily reports
- Transcript due to police by 10 a.m.
- Inspection
- Open to police at all times
Summary
Mobile requires every dealer in secondhand articles to register with the police chief before opening, keep serialized purchase records, and hold each item 15 days before resale or alteration.
Every dealer in secondhand articles described in section 53-3 shall promptly before the beginning of business register his name, address and every place where he plans to carry on business or stores property with the chief of police in a book kept for that purpose.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
Before beginning business, every dealer in secondhand articles in Mobile, Alabama must register their name, address, and every place of business with the chief of police (§53-2). Dealers buying items like jewelry, precious metals, or household goods must log each purchase with a description, date, and the seller's ID in a serially numbered book, and mail a daily transcript to the police department by 10:00 a.m. (§53-3). Purchased items cannot be sold or altered until 15 days after the purchase is reported, unless the chief of police grants written permission (§53-5). Records must be open for police inspection at all times (§53-6).
Violations & Fines
Failing to register, keep the required purchase log, report daily transcripts, or observe the 15-day holding period is a criminal offense under the code, punishable under Mobile's general penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mobile require secondhand dealers to register?
How long must a dealer hold a purchased item before reselling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mobile
Compare Mobile to another location·View the Alabama business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.