Ventura County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $100.00 per year
- Issuing agency
- Sheriff's Office
- Report deadline
- Daily by 2 p.m.
- Business hours ban
- 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
Summary
Operating a secondhand goods business in unincorporated Ventura County requires a Sheriff-issued license, a $100 annual fee, and daily reports of purchased goods to the Sheriff's office.
2323 - Second-hand dealers. No person as a principal shall engage in the business of second-hand dealer without first obtaining a license therefor. ... 2328 - Fee. The fee for obtaining a second-hand dealer's license or pawnbroker's license is $100.00 per year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
County Ordinance Code § 2323 bars anyone from acting as a secondhand dealer without first getting a license from the Sheriff. Licensees must file a daily report by 2 p.m. of all goods purchased the prior day (§ 2329), keep transaction records open to inspection at all times (§ 2330-2331), and may not buy or receive goods between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (§ 2332). A revoked license cannot be reissued for three months (§ 2327).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or buying/receiving goods during prohibited hours, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail under § 13-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to run a secondhand store in unincorporated Ventura County?
What happens if a secondhand dealer's license is revoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.