Martin County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Sec. B of the Martin County Code separately regulates "all persons dealing in the purchase, sale or exchange of secondhand or antique jewelry, watches, diamonds or other precious stones, cutlery, gold, silver, platinum or other precious metals, or any other secondhand manufactured articles" containing those metals or gems, a distinct class from the pawnbrokers covered earlier in the same section. Each dealer must keep a log describing every article received in as much detail as possible, including the maker's name and item number, plus the name, age, sex, race, address, driver's license number and general description of the person selling, exchanging or pledging it, along with the dollar amount and the date and hour of the transaction.

That log must stay at the dealer's place of business at all times, and Sheriff's deputies and other local law enforcement officers get access during normal business hours plus any information the dealer has about the items and sellers. Sec. C requires anyone operating without an established, permanent location to give the Sheriff at least 72 hours' written notice of the location, date and hours of operation, and to furnish daily reports at the Sheriff's office with the same seller and item details. Sec. D requires every received article to be kept in the same condition received, not commingled with other items, and held available for law enforcement examination for seven days before resale or exchange, unless the Sheriff grants written permission to shorten that hold.

Sec. E defines an "established permanent location" as a fixed place with no present intent to abandon it, and treats anyone operating for less than six months as not having one.