Ogden, UT Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Recordkeeping
- bound ledger, ink, no erasures
- Report to
- Ogden Police chief of police, daily
- Resale hold
- 2 weeks minimum before resale
- Minors
- no purchases from under-18 without consent
- Penalty
- class B misdemeanor, up to $1,000
Summary
Anyone buying and reselling old metal, glass, rags or secondhand goods and clothing in Ogden City must keep records under City Code Title 5, Chapter 12, Article B. Secondhand dealers log every purchase in a bound book with the seller's name, age, address, height, weight, and eye and hair color, and junk dealers keep a parallel ledger.
SECONDHAND DEALER: ... Any person who keeps a store, office or place of business for the purchase or sale of secondhand clothing or garments of any kind, or secondhand goods, wares, musical instruments, curiosities, or other merchandise, except books, stamps and coins, or who engages in the business of dealing in secondhand goods, is declared to be a "secondhand dealer". ... ... A. Secondhand Dealer: ... 1. It is unlawful for any secondhand dealer to fail to keep a substantial and well bound book in which he shall enter at the time of purchase, in the English language: a. A true and accurate description of every article purchased by him; b. An accurate description of the vendor, to include: name, age, address, height, weight and color of hair and eyes; c. The amount paid; d. The date and hour of purchase.
Full Breakdown
Ogden City Code § 5-12B-1 defines a "junk dealer" as anyone buying old metals, glass, rags, paper or other junk to resell in substantially the same form, and a "secondhand dealer" as anyone keeping a store or place of business to buy or sell secondhand clothing, goods, wares, musical instruments or curiosities, aside from books, stamps and coins. Under § 5-12B-2, every secondhand dealer must keep a substantial, well bound book recording each purchase in English ink: a true description of the article, the vendor's name, age, address, height, weight, and hair and eye color, the price paid, and the date and hour.
Junk dealers keep a parallel record by weight and metallic or material description. No erasures are permitted, and the book stays open to inspection by any peace officer or authorized officer at any time for secondhand dealers, and during business hours for junk dealers. Section 5-12B-3 requires both to make a daily report available to the Ogden Police Department chief of police covering every article received, sold or pledged the day after the transaction. Under § 5-12B-4, a secondhand dealer cannot resell jewelry, footwear, apparel or other reportable secondhand merchandise for at least two weeks after purchase without the police chief's written consent, and neither dealer may buy from anyone under 18 without a parent's or guardian's written consent.
Violations & Fines
Because Chapter 12B sets no chapter-specific fine, a conviction falls under the citywide general penalty in Ogden City Code § 1-4A-1: a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail for an individual, or up to $5,000 for a corporation, unless the court treats the offense as a lesser class C misdemeanor or infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ogden secondhand dealers need to report purchases to police?
How long must a secondhand dealer hold merchandise before reselling it?
Can a junk dealer buy scrap from a minor in Ogden?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ogden
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