Portland, OR Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Revenue Division
- Triggers vetting by
- Chief of Police
- Permit term
- 1 year, nontransferable
- Occasional-dealer threshold
- 50+ items per year
- Civil penalty
- Up to $500 per violation
Summary
Portland requires a Revenue Division permit to buy or resell secondhand goods, with police vetting, ID checks on sellers, and mandatory transaction reporting.
No person or business may engage in, conduct or carry on a secondhand dealer business in the City without a valid secondhand dealer permit issued by the Revenue Division.
B. Upon acquiring or offering for sale more than 50 items of regulated property during any one-year period, an Occasional Secondhand Dealer must apply for and obtain a secondhand dealer permit before acquiring any more items of regulated property.
C. Any person or business that advertises or otherwise holds themselves out to be acquiring or offering for sale regulated property within the City will be presumed to be operating as a dealer subject to the terms of Chapter 14B.90.
D. The sale of regulated property at events commonly known as "garage sales," "yard sales," or "estate sales," is exempt from these regulations if all of the following are present:
1. No sale exceeds a period of 72 consecutive hours; and
2. No more than four sales are held at the same location in any twelve-month period. 14B.90.035 Minimum Standards.
A. No person or business may operate as a dealer within the City unless the person or business maintains a fixed physical business location and is a registered business.
B. Dealers must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. 14B.90.040 Application for Permit.
A. An applicant for a secondhand dealer permit must complete and submit an application (including required personal history forms) that sets forth the following information:
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 14B.90 requires anyone operating a secondhand dealer business in Portland to hold a permit from the Revenue Division; the Chief of Police investigates applicants and principals before issuance. Occasional dealers trigger the same requirement once they acquire or sell more than 50 items of regulated property in a year. Dealers must check acceptable ID on sellers, report transactions to the Police Bureau, and hold regulated property for a set period before resale or disposal.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit or violating Chapter 14B.90 draws civil penalties up to $500 per violation from the City Administrator; a principal already assessed over $2,000 in civil penalties within 12 months who violates again can face a criminal fine up to $500 and up to 6 months in jail. Permits can also be revoked or suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do garage sales need a secondhand dealer permit in Portland?
What happens if I sell used goods without a Portland permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
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Secondhand Dealers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Multnomah County handle secondhand dealers.