Plano, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Article IX defines 'regulated property' broadly under § 11-362: new or used electronic equipment, business machines, photographic equipment, power tools, musical instruments, firearms, jewelry, crafted precious metals, compact discs and cassette tapes, and recreational sporting goods and equipment. Any dealer, defined as a person who buys such property for resale, who purchases it from someone other than a manufacturer or authorized wholesale vendor must, at the time of purchase, record the seller's name, sex, race, date of birth, height, address, and driver's license or personal identification card number, along with a description of the item (make, model, serial number, color, size) and the price paid.

The dealer must confirm the photo on the seller's ID matches the seller, retain a photocopy of that ID, and have the seller sign a written statement affirming legal ownership or authority to sell. Under § 11-363(2)d, the dealer must then hold the item and withhold it from resale for ten business days unless, at resale, the dealer instead records the buyer's identifying information for police inspection. The full purchase file must stay on hand for two years from the purchase date or until the item sells, whichever is later, and must be produced for any police officer during regular business hours.

Section 11-365 exempts property donated to a nonprofit, sold at a judicially ordered or estate sale, or sold by a government entity from these recordkeeping duties.