Oceanside, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Sec. 1 defines a "secondhand dealer" as every person conducting the business of buying or selling precious metals, coins, used jewelry, watches, diamonds, clothing, musical instruments, luggage, sporting goods and junk, distinct from the chapter's pawnbroker definition. Sec. 12 makes it unlawful to issue a local license to any secondhand dealer, pawnbroker or money lender unless the applicant presents, with the application, all state licenses the state requires for that business. Sec. 11 additionally bars anyone from operating as a secondhand dealer or pawnbroker in the city unless the owner and operator is either a bona fide resident of the city or has conducted a business within the city for at least one year before the license is granted.

Sec. 5 requires every secondhand dealer, along with junk dealers and pawnbrokers, to keep a record filed at the time of acquisition of any article acquired by purchase, pledge or otherwise, listing the seller's name and address, physical description, date of birth, Social Security number or driver's license number, the date of the transaction, and a complete description of the property including serial numbers or other identifying marks. Sec. 9 gives police officers the right to inspect money lenders' loan records at any time during ordinary business hours. Unlike pawnshops under Sec. 13, the code does not set a numeric cap on secondhand dealer licenses.