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Nashua, NH Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Licensing authority
Board of Aldermen
License fee
$50
License expires
April 1 annually
Records retention
7 years
Max daily fine
$100 per day

Summary

Nashua requires anyone buying secondhand goods from the public to hold a Board of Aldermen license, keep detailed transaction records, and report purchases to police within 24 hours.

No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall operate, conduct or engage in business as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer unless such person, firm, partnership or corporation obtains a license from the City of Nashua through the Board of Aldermen in accordance with NH RSA 398:5 and RSA 322:1, respectively. Applications for licenses for pawnbrokers or secondhand dealers shall be made in writing to the City of Nashua on forms provided by the City of Nashua.

A. Investigation of applicant. All applications shall be submitted by the City Clerk to the Chief of Police, who shall cause an investigation to be made of the fitness of the applicant and the applicant's employees to carry on the business of pawnbroker or secondhand dealer. The Chief of Police shall then report his or her findings to the Board of Aldermen. [Amended 2-14-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-001]

B. Location. The license shall be issued for a specific location within the City of Nashua and is not transferable to any other person, firm, partnership or corporation. [Amended 2-14-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-001]

C. Fee. Upon approval by the Board of Aldermen, a fee of $50 shall be paid by the applicant to the City Clerk prior to the issuance of the license.

D. Display of license. Licensees shall display their current license in a conspicuous place within the business where it may be readily viewed by the general public.

E.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).

Full Breakdown

Under City Code § 220-4, no person or business may operate as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer in Nashua without a license issued by the Board of Aldermen, following a Chief of Police background investigation and a $50 fee. Licenses are tied to one location, must be displayed publicly, and expire every April 1 unless revoked earlier. Dealers must photograph every item bought, verify sellers' government photo ID, hold purchased property for 30 days before resale, and electronically report all transactions to police within 24 hours (§§ 220-5 through 220-8).

Violations & Fines

Any violation is punishable by a fine of up to $100 per day (§ 220-10A), and the Board of Aldermen may suspend or revoke the dealer's license after a hearing (§ 220-10B).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to run a secondhand shop in Nashua?
Yes. City Code § 220-4 requires a Board of Aldermen license before operating as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, issued after a Chief of Police background check.
How fast must a Nashua dealer report a purchase to police?
Within 24 hours of the end of the business day the transaction occurred, per § 220-8, including a photo of the item and the seller's ID.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Nashua

All Nashua rules

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