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Sacramento, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
Secondhand or junk dealer permit via chief of police
Fixed location
Business only at the address on the license
Holding period
10 days (48 hours for junk dealers) before resale
Records
Numbered transaction forms kept 3 years, filed daily
Penalty
Operating without a permit is an infraction

Summary

Secondhand and junk dealers in Sacramento need a city permit before operating, must do business only at the licensed address, and are bound by a 10-day resale holding period plus daily transaction reporting to the police: rules meant to keep stolen goods traceable.

No pawnbroker or secondhand dealer shall transact business except upon the premises indicated on his or her license.

View official code

Full Breakdown

040 makes it unlawful and a public nuisance to operate without one. 070 further requires the business location to be one authorized for that use under the Planning and Development Code. 250 bars employing anyone under 18 to make purchases, loans, or trades.

Violations & Fines

§ 5.80.030 makes any violation of Articles I, II, or III, unlicensed operation, transacting business outside the licensed premises, skipping the holding period, or failing to keep or deliver required records, an infraction. Permits can also be denied, suspended, or revoked under § 5.80.080 and § 5.80.140, with appeal rights under § 5.80.150 and judicial review by writ of mandate under § 5.80.160.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do secondhand dealers need a city permit in Sacramento?
Yes. § 5.80.010 requires a permit before conducting business as a secondhand or junk dealer, and § 5.80.040 makes operating without one an unlawful public nuisance.
Where can a secondhand dealer conduct business?
Only at the address on the permit. § 5.80.180 bars pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers from transacting business anywhere except the premises listed on their license.
How long must purchased goods be held before resale?
§ 5.80.200 sets a 10-day holding period for goods bought by a secondhand dealer, and 48 hours for a junk dealer, before the item can be resold or removed from the business.
What records must a secondhand dealer keep?
§ 5.80.220 requires a numbered form describing each item and seller for every transaction, retained for three years, and § 5.80.240 requires those forms be delivered to the chief of police each business day before noon.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sacramento

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All Sacramento rules

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Secondhand Dealers in Nearby Cities

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