Stanislaus County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License authority
- County treasurer-tax collector
- Investigation window
- Sheriff has 60 days to report
- Holding period
- 30 days before reselling goods
- Prohibited hours
- 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Minimum age to sell
- 18 years old
- Small-inventory exemption
- Marked inventory under $500
Summary
Stanislaus County requires every secondhand merchant in the unincorporated area to hold a treasurer-tax collector license before buying, trading, or pawning used property. Chapter 6.52 also mandates daily sheriff reports on acquired goods, a 30-day holding period before resale, and bars purchases from anyone under 18 or between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
§ 6.52.005. Authority and construction. This section is adopted pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 21638 and Section 21660 in supplementation of the state secondhand dealers law and the state swap meet law, Business and Professions Code Sections 21625 et seq. and 21660 et seq., respectively. ... § 6.52.140. License—Required. It is unlawful for any person to act as a secondhand merchant without first making an application for and receiving from the treasurer-tax collector a license to act as such secondhand merchant in the unincorporated areas of the county.
Full Breakdown
52, adopted under Business and Professions Code Sections 21638 and 21660 to supplement the state secondhand dealers and swap meet laws, governs pawnbrokers, secondhand shops, flea market and swap meet vendors, and door-to-door or itinerant used-goods dealers operating in the unincorporated county. 140 makes it unlawful to act as a secondhand merchant without first applying for and receiving a license from the treasurer-tax collector. 160 lets the sheriff demand photographs and fingerprints of everyone who will manage the business or handle acquisitions. 190. 180 sets the annual license fee by board resolution. m. 015 cover used-car and used-equipment dealers, secondhand furniture and rag/bottle dealers, charitable resale, and merchants whose entire marked inventory totals under $500.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.52.200 lets the sheriff serve notice on a licensee to show cause before the board of supervisors why a license should not be suspended or revoked for violating the chapter or state law. Section 6.52.210 bars reapplication for 30 days after a suspension and 90 days after a revocation. Section 6.52.220 makes any violation an infraction under Section 1.36.020, with each day of noncontinuing noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county license to run a secondhand shop in unincorporated Stanislaus County?
How long must a pawn or secondhand shop hold items before reselling them?
Can a secondhand dealer buy items late at night?
Is a small resale business exempt from the county's secondhand dealer license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stanislaus County
California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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