Paramount, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Report
- Buy-form mailed to the Sheriff at close of each business day
- Record retention
- Two years for the licensee copy; Sheriff files two years
- General hold
- 14 days after reporting the purchase
- Usable metal hold
- 21 days for foundries and junk dealers
- Sheriff hold order
- Up to 90 days on any property
- Swap meets
- Operator responsible for every participant
Summary
Pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, junk dealers, foundry and oil tool exchange operators, auctioneers and swap meet operators in the City of Paramount, California must mail a buy-form to the Sheriff at the close of each business day, keep a copy for two years, and hold purchased goods until 14 days after reporting them.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, owners or operators of foundries, owners or operators of oil tool exchanges, junk dealers and auctioneers doing business in the City. ... Every licensee shall at the close of each business day mail to the Sheriff the buy-form made out during that day. ... Every licensee shall preserve for a period of two years a copy of the buy-form provided for that purpose, containing a carbon copy record thereon of the original writing made by the licensee, agent or employee, the original of which has been furnished to the Sheriff. ... A person, other than a used car dealer, shall not melt, destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of any article, goods, wares, merchandise or thing obtained or used in any business for the conduct of which a license is required by this chapter until 14 days after making a report to the Sheriff as required by Section 5.80.040 that such article, goods, wares, merchandise or thing has been purchased or received by such person.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5.80 of the Paramount Municipal Code applies under § 5.80.020 to all pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, owners or operators of foundries, owners or operators of oil tool exchanges, junk dealers and auctioneers doing business in the City. Section 5.80.030 extends it to every swap meet in the City, and the swap meet owner or operator is responsible for each participant's compliance. The buy-form is the form the Sheriff furnishes the licensee for recording purchases, pledges and consignments.
Section 5.80.040 requires the licensee to mail the day's buy-form to the Sheriff at the close of each business day, reporting all goods received on deposit, pledged or purchased. Household furniture, used tires and used batteries taken in part payment for new tires or batteries are excepted, as is merchandise originally sold new by the licensee and later taken as a trade-in. Sellers must furnish true, positive identification under § 5.80.050, and § 5.80.060 has the licensee record a driver's license number, work badge number, auto or truck license number or junk collector's business license number, plus the true name and address, or a plain impression print of the right index finger. Licensees keep a copy of each buy-form for two years (§ 5.80.070), and the Sheriff keeps the reports on file for two years (§ 5.80.080).
The holding rules do the real work. Section 5.80.090 bars melting, destroying or selling goods until 14 days after the report to the Sheriff, with used car dealers excepted. A foundry or junk dealer cannot dispose of usable metal until 21 days after the report (§ 5.80.100). Until the hold ends or the Sheriff releases the goods, the licensee cannot clean, alter, repair or paint them and must expose them to public view during business hours (§ 5.80.110). The Sheriff can place a hold order for 90 days (§ 5.80.130), and nothing can be exported from the County until the Sheriff inspects and releases it (§ 5.80.140).
Violations & Fines
Chapter 5.80 has no penalty clause of its own, so § 1.04.150 applies: a violation is a misdemeanor unless the Code or State law calls it an infraction or the City Attorney files it as one. A misdemeanor conviction carries a fine not exceeding the greater of $1,000.00 or the California Government Code Section 36901 maximum, or jail time, or both. The Sheriff's hold order under § 5.80.130 can freeze goods for 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must follow the secondhand dealer rules in the City of Paramount?
How long must a Paramount dealer hold goods before selling them?
What identification must a seller show a Paramount secondhand dealer?
Can a Paramount dealer clean or repair goods right after buying them?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paramount
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