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

The City Council found in Section 4.21.010 that secondhand businesses can become ready vehicles for disposing of stolen property, and Chapter 4.21 is intended to control the goods purchased and sold by such businesses. Section 4.21.030 makes it unlawful to transact, conduct or carry on business as a secondhand dealer in the City without first procuring the business license required by Chapter 4.02 and the regulatory permit required by Chapter 4.03, and a dealer must separately apply for and hold a State secondhand dealer's license under Business and Professions Code Section 21625 et seq. before the City license issues.

Section 4.21.040 requires every dealer to file with the Sheriff all reports required by that same Business and Professions Code article, plus any additional information the Sheriff needs to detect stolen property, and to keep a copy of each report on file at the place of business for three years, available for Sheriff inspection at all reasonable times. Section 4.21.050 requires every dealer to retain all reportable secondhand property in their possession for 30 days from the date the acquisition report is filed with the Sheriff, and the property may not leave the City during that period; the Sheriff may release it early after an inspection.

Section 4.21.060 bars a dealer from cleaning, altering, repairing or painting secondhand property until the holding period ends or the Sheriff releases it, and property must be displayed to public view during the holding period. Under Section 4.21.070 the Sheriff may place a 90-day hold order on acquired property and require the dealer to keep records of the buyer's name and address for three years. Motor vehicle transfers recorded with the DMV and trade-ins accepted by an authorized manufacturer's representative are excluded under Section 4.21.080.