Secondhand dealers in Providence must register with the police, log every purchase, and hold goods 14 days before resale. Rhode Island statute 19-26 sets the underlying recordkeeping framework.
Providence requires shops buying used jewelry, electronics, instruments, or precious metals to obtain a Board of Licenses permit and submit transactions through the LeadsOnline reporting system used by Providence Police. Each entry records seller ID, item description, serial numbers, and photographs. State law mandates a hold period before resale so detectives can match items against stolen-property reports. Violations have included unrecorded gold buying and fast-flip fencing operations that have triggered license revocations.
Failing to record sellers, ignoring the resale hold period, or skipping LeadsOnline uploads brings fines, license suspension, and potential receiving-stolen-property charges.
See how Providence's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.