Saint Paul, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- For all secondhand/antique dealing (§355.01(a))
- Holding period
- 30 days for reportable items (§355.04(c))
- Business hours
- 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. only (§355.05(a))
- Minors
- Dealers barred from buying from minors (§355.05(a))
- Records retained
- At least 3 years (§355.04(b)(6))
- Exhibition license
- Capped at 5 days, 12/year per site (§355.01(b))
Summary
Saint Paul secondhand and antique dealers need a city license under § 355.01(a) before buying or selling used goods, must hold any 'reportable' item, electronics, jewelry, firearms, gems, for 30 days before resale under § 355.04(c), and can't open before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. or buy from minors under § 355.05(a).
(a)No person shall be engaged in the business of buying or selling secondhand goods or antiques of any kind in Saint Paul without a license to do so. ... No property purchased by any person licensed hereunder, which is the subject of a reportable transaction, shall be sold by or be permitted to be removed from the place of business of such licensee for a period of thirty (30) days after acquisition. There is no holding period for items which are the subject of a recordable transaction. ... No person licensed hereunder shall keep his or her office or store open for the transaction of business on any day of the week before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m., nor shall any person so licensed purchase or receive personal property of any nature from any minor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
04(a) sweep in items with a unique identifier, precious metals or gems, firearms, and a long list of goods bought for $25 or more, electronics, musical instruments, cameras, computers, cellphones, powered yard and mechanic's tools, plus sporting goods over $50, art glass over $100, and artwork over $150. 04(e); Class A licensees instead transmit records daily by modem. 04(i). 04(j)-(k). 04(d) exempts new merchandise from established wholesalers, nonprofit donations, household kitchen/laundry appliances, plain furniture, cookware without precious metals, clothing and shoes, children's items, consigned goods, and antique-dealer purchases from garage or estate sales. 01(c) for shared retail spaces.
Violations & Fines
Selling a reportable item before the 30-day hold in § 355.04(c) expires is a prohibited act that can trigger adverse license action. Section 355.05(a) separately bars keeping the shop open outside 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and bars buying from any minor regardless of the hour. Section 355.05(b) bars accepting property with an altered or removed unique identifier, and § 355.05(c) bars receiving goods without the seller presenting valid photo identification, both are listed prohibited acts under the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to run a Saint Paul antique or secondhand shop?
How long must a secondhand dealer hold an item before reselling it?
Can a Saint Paul secondhand dealer buy from a teenager at midnight?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
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