Murfreesboro, TN Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration
- With the Chief of Police
- Hold period
- 120 hours before resale
- Log delivery
- Daily copy to police by noon
- Bond
- $1,000 cash or surety
- Exemption
- Coin-only dealers excluded
Summary
Dealers buying used, antique, or scrap jewelry and precious metals for resale must register with the Murfreesboro Police Chief under Code § 21-80 and follow strict hold, logging, tagging, and bond rules.
Any person, firm or corporation purchasing or otherwise dealing in antique, used, or scrap jewelry and precious metals, where the said purchase is for resale in its original form or as changed by remounting, melting, reforming, remolding or recasting or for resale as scrap or in bulk, shall be required to register with the Chief of Police of the City. The Police Department shall photograph all registrants, and in the case of corporations, the manager and employees of the business activity in the City.(B)The provisions of this article shall not be applicable to any person, firm or corporation purchasing or otherwise dealing solely in coins. (Ord. No. 81-1 § 1, 01-08-81)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Code § 21-80 requires anyone purchasing or dealing in antique, used, or scrap jewelry and precious metals for resale -- melted, remounted, or in bulk -- to register with the Chief of Police, who photographs each registrant; coin-only dealers are exempt. Under § 21-81, purchased items must sit unaltered and on-site for 120 hours. Section 21-82 requires a duplicate purchase log recording the seller's name, race, address, and driver's license number, delivered to police daily by noon. Section 21-83 requires an individually numbered tag on every purchased item. Dealers must also post a $1,000 cash bond or surety bond with the City Recorder under § 21-85 before operating.
Violations & Fines
Selling, altering, or hiding a purchased item before the 120-hour hold expires, or skipping the log, tag, or bond requirements, violates Code §§ 21-80 through 21-85; conviction carries a $50-$250 fine, up to 90 days, and a one-year business ban.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do secondhand jewelry buyers need a city registration in Murfreesboro?
How long must a dealer hold an item before reselling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
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