Oldham County, KY Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 112 of the Oldham County Code regulates merchants engaged in buying and selling precious metals, jewels and gems in the unincorporated county. Under § 112.03, every such merchant must, before starting operation, pay a minimum annual license fee of $50 to the County Zoning Administrator, the designated licensing agent under § 112.02, and receive a certificate or badge identifying the licensee; the license is non-transferable. No license issues until the applicant delivers a $5,000 bond with approved surety, which stays in force until one year after the merchant stops doing business in the county.

Section 112.04 requires the license certificate be prominently and publicly displayed where the business operates. Section 112.05 bars licensees from buying precious metals, jewels or gems from anyone under 18, and requires every purchase be held at least ten days before resale or modification. Dealers must record, in a form the Zoning Administrator prescribes, the seller's name, address, Social Security number, driver's license number and place of employment verified by two forms of ID, a photograph of the seller, and a full description of the merchandise in legible English, including any engraved numbers or markings; these records must be kept available for inspection for one year.

Section 112.06 lets the County Police, State Police, La Grange Police, Pewee Valley Police, and the County Sheriff's Department inspect records and merchandise on reasonable demand during business hours.