Prince William County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 20.4 of the County Code, effective January 1, 2017, regulates every business that buys, pawns, or accepts on consignment secondhand computers, electronics, musical instruments, power tools, small appliances and televisions. Before opening, a pawnbroker or secondhand merchant must file an application with the Chief of Police that includes full name, aliases, address, date of birth, and employer information, then submit to fingerprinting, photographing and a criminal background check under § 20.4-7. Anyone convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude within the last ten years is barred from holding a license.

Pawnbrokers face an extra hurdle: they must also win approval from the Circuit Court of Prince William County and post the surety bond required by Virginia Code § 54.1-4003 before the police department will issue a license. Secondhand merchant licenses run for one year and cover every employee working at the licensed location; pawnbrokers must renew both licenses annually, and the county caps pawnbroker locations at twelve countywide under § 20.4-7(F). Once licensed, dealers must log every transaction for at least 24 months (§ 20.4-2), including the seller's ID, a physical description, and a digital photo of both the seller and any unmarked item, and must electronically report all pawns and purchases to the Chief of Police by noon the next business day (§ 20.4-3).

Merchants must hold purchased goods 15 days and pawnbrokers must hold pledged goods 30 days plus a 15-day grace period before disposal or resale (§ 20.4-5), and no dealer may buy from anyone under eighteen (§ 20.4-6).