Rochester, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 96, rewritten in full by Ordinance No. 2012-122, requires a license from the Chief of Police for the 'business of secondhand dealer,' defined in Section 96-1B to cover purchasing secondhand gold, silver, platinum, diamonds or other precious gems; bicycles; radios, televisions and stereo equipment; jewelry and watches; cameras; furniture and appliances; consumer electronics and office equipment; tools; stamps and coins; automotive parts; and motor vehicles, with 'purchase' defined to include any exchange, trade or transfer for consideration. Section 96-2 exempts licensed junk dealers, tax-exempt 501(c)(3)/(c)(4) organizations, one garage/yard/porch sale per address per calendar year lasting no more than three days, charitable sales, and returns of goods to the original seller for credit or refund.

An application under Section 96-3 goes to the City Clerk and must list the operator's and any employees' names and dates of birth; after Zoning Code sign-off, the Chief of Police inspects the premises for public-safety problems and investigates the owner's and operator's background. Section 96-7 sets the annual fee at $350 for a general secondhand dealer's license, $400 for a secondhand auto dealer's license, and $10 to replace a lost license; licenses expire May 31 each year under Section 96-6. unless the Zoning Code is more restrictive, and Section 96-8F bars 'lack of good order' including gambling, prostitution, illegal alcohol or tobacco sales, food-stamp fraud and possession of stolen property.