Riverside, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Chief of Police
- Permit term
- 2 years, renewable
- Review period
- 90 days, +30 for cause
- State license
- BPC §21640 or Fin. Code §21300
- Pawnbroker bond
- $20,000 faithful-performance bond
- Application
- Livescan fingerprints required
- Violation
- Misdemeanor under BPC §21645
Summary
Riverside requires anyone operating a pawnshop or secondhand dealer establishment, including EcoATM-style kiosks, to hold a police-issued establishment permit on top of state licensing, a city business tax certificate, and a minor conditional use permit before opening.
A.No person shall own, operate, or manage any pawnshop establishment in any location within the city without first having obtained a pawnshop business establishment permit from the chief of police. No person shall own, operate, or manage any secondhand dealer establishment in any location within the city without first having obtained a secondhand dealer establishment permit from the chief of police....E.Each permit issued under this section shall expire two years from the date of issuance....I.The chief of police shall complete an investigation of the qualifications and moral character of the applicant and either grant or deny the permit within 90 days after the submission of the competed application; provided, however, if good cause exists, the chief of police may extend the period of investigation for an additional 30 days, provided the applicant is mailed notification or verbally notified that the investigation has not been completed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
90 layers city permitting on top of California's state secondhand-dealer and pawnbroker licenses. 050). The establishment-permit application is filed under penalty of perjury with the Chief of Police and must disclose every owner's five-year address and employment history, any prior permit denials or revocations, and a full set of Livescan fingerprints, with the applicant covering the fingerprinting fee. 060(I). 060(E)-(F)). 080). 140.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pawnshop or secondhand dealer establishment where the operator knew or should have known a violation was occurring is a misdemeanor under Business and Professions Code § 21645, RMC § 1.01.110(A), and § 5.90.120(A). The city may instead pursue administrative code-enforcement remedies under Chapter 1.17, and the prevailing party in a nuisance-abatement action recovers attorney's fees under Government Code § 38773.5. The Chief of Police can also revoke the establishment permit for felony or moral-turpitude offenses, public-nuisance conduct, or a pattern of law violations, after a cure period for correctable violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Riverside require a permit beyond my state secondhand dealer license?
How long is the Riverside establishment permit valid?
Can Riverside deny my pawnshop or secondhand dealer permit application?
What happens if I'm accused of receiving stolen goods?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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Secondhand Dealers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle secondhand dealers.