Gwinnett County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax certificate
- Not required (Sec. 18-317(b) exempt)
- Records still required
- ID, photo, fingerprint per transaction
- Record retention
- 4 years, available to police
- Daily reporting
- Via electronic reporting system
Summary
Secondhand dealers in unincorporated Gwinnett County skip the precious-metals dealer's tax certificate and work permit, but they must still keep detailed transaction records, buyer ID, fingerprints, and photos, under the same rules that apply to precious metals dealers.
Sections 18-319 and 18-320 shall not apply to registered pawnbrokers, scrap metal processors, or secondhand dealers. Pawnbrokers, scrap metal processors, and secondhand dealers are not, however, relieved from compliance with section 18-322 when the purchase of precious metals or goods containing precious metals are from persons or sources other than industrial producers, manufacturers, or licensed dealers or distributors.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-317(b) exempts registered pawnbrokers, scrap metal processors, and secondhand dealers from the occupation tax certificate (Sec. 18-319) and work permit (Sec. 18-320) that apply to precious metals dealers, but it does not excuse them from Sec. 18-322's recordkeeping rules whenever they buy from anyone other than a manufacturer or licensed distributor. Under Sec. 18-322, a dealer must document each seller's ID, take a photo and right-index fingerprint, tag every item with a transaction number, and report daily to the electronic system used by county police.
Violations & Fines
Buying secondhand goods without keeping the required ID, photo, and fingerprint records violates Sec. 18-322 and, like any Code violation, is punishable by a $100–$1,000 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both under Sec. 1-11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a secondhand dealer in Gwinnett need an occupation tax certificate like a pawnshop?
What records must a secondhand dealer keep on each purchase?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
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