San Diego County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Issuing Officer
- County Sheriff
- Fixed place of business
- Required in unincorporated area
- Property holding period
- 7 days, subject to inspection
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers in unincorporated San Diego County must hold a Sheriff-issued license and operate from a fixed place of business before buying used goods.
No person shall conduct business as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer in the unincorporated area of the County without obtaining a license from the Issuing Officer. The Sheriff shall be the Issuing Officer for any license required by this chapter. A pawnbroker's license and a secondhand dealer's license are subject to sections 21.101- 21.117 of this code and this chapter. (Ord. No. 8466 (N.S.), effective 11-25-94; amended by Ord. No. 8711 (N.S.), effective 8-29-96; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07) Cross reference(s)--Sheriff's regulatory fees, §
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code Chapter 7 requires anyone conducting business as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer in the unincorporated area to get a license from the Sheriff, the designated Issuing Officer, and to maintain a fixed place of business there (Sec. 21.703-21.704). Dealers must hold every item acquired for 7 days from the date it's reported to the Sheriff, keeping it available for inspection by peace officers or Sheriff's license specialists during that window (Sec. 21.706). Licenses follow the general Title 2 licensing rules in Sections 21.101-21.117, including grounds for denial and appeal.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, or without a fixed place of business, is a code violation punishable under Sec. 11.116 as a misdemeanor: up to a $1,000 fine, up to 6 months in County Jail, or both; prosecutors may instead charge it as an infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this license apply inside the City of San Diego?
How long must a secondhand dealer keep purchased items before reselling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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