Portage County, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Sec. 2.23.1(10) defines a secondhand shop as a business engaged in buying and selling coins, other collectible currency, jewelry, digital media articles, or consumer electronics that have been previously used, rented, or leased. The chapter's pawnbroker definition, Sec. 2.23.1(7), extends its own coverage to that kind of business: to the extent a business's dealings include buying personal property previously used, rented, leased, or selling it on consignment, the chapter's provisions apply. That pulls secondhand shops into the same recordkeeping and reporting scheme as pawnbrokers. Sec.

2.23.8(4)(a) requires any secondhand article purchased or received by a secondhand shop to stay on the premises, held separate from saleable inventory, for at least 30 days after purchase, unless the known lawful owner redeems it first, and the shop must let a law enforcement officer inspect the item during that period. Sec. 2.23.8(3) requires the shop to record, in ink or an approved computerized system, a full description of each item, the price paid, the seller's identifying information and photo ID, and the transaction date.

Sec. 2.23.8(7) requires the shop to transmit every reportable transaction to the Portage County Sheriff's Office electronically within one business day, and to post a sign telling patrons that transactions are reported daily. A secondhand shop, like a pawnbroker, must also verify a seller's identification and cannot buy from a minor without a parent or guardian present and signing the form, per Sec. 2.23.8(1)-(2).