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

San Leandro Municipal Code Chapter 4-9 makes it unlawful to engage in the business of junk dealer, secondhand dealer or pawnbroker without a valid permit issued under the chapter (SLMC § 4-9-200). Applications go to the Chief of Police on a prescribed form, and the Chief must issue the permit unless the applicant was convicted of receiving or attempting to receive stolen property, the business would violate law or create a public nuisance, the application contains a material misstatement, or the applicant is under 18 (§ 4-9-210).

The Chief has 45 days to investigate and act on an application (§ 4-9-215). A permit can be suspended or revoked if the business is run contrary to any city, state or federal law, but only after a hearing with at least five working days' written notice of the grounds (§ 4-9-220). A denied, suspended or revoked applicant has 10 days to appeal in writing to the City Council, which must hold a public hearing within 30 days (§ 4-9-225). Every application carries a non-refundable fee set by City Council resolution, separate from the regular business license fee (§ 4-9-230).

Dealers must keep a bound English-language book recording a description of each item bought, sold or pawned, the seller's name, signature, address, date of birth and description, the price paid, the date and time, and the vehicle license plate used to deliver the goods (§ 4-9-300), and must send copies to the Chief of Police the next working day (§ 4-9-305). Property taken in must be held 30 days before resale, extendable up to another 60 days under a Chief-issued hold order (§§ 4-9-400, 4-9-410), and records must stay open to inspection by any San Leandro police officer at any time (§ 4-9-310).