Springfield, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Business hours
- 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. weekdays only
- Photo retention
- Minimum 3 years
- Transaction reporting
- Daily electronic feed to NESPIN
- New-license moratorium
- In effect through June 30, 2028
Summary
Springfield, MA requires a Police Department license before anyone can run a shop buying, selling, or bartering secondhand or junk articles.
No person, firm, or corporation shall engage in the business of operating a shop for the purchase, sale or barter of secondhand articles without obtaining a license therefor and complying with the terms of this section. The Police Department may license suitable persons to be collectors of, dealers in or keepers of shops for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metal or secondhand articles, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 140 of the General Laws.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4680006; v21 updated 2025-12-15; through 12-15-2025).
Full Breakdown
Springfield City Code § 270-2 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate a shop for the purchase, sale, or barter of secondhand articles without a license. The Police Department issues these licenses to suitable persons who deal in, collect, or keep shops for junk, old metal, or secondhand articles, under authority of M.G.L. c. 140. Licensees in the City of Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts also face detailed recordkeeping duties under § 270-3 -- electronic transaction records, item photographs kept 3 years, and daily transmission of records to the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) -- plus restricted business hours (7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays) under § 270-8. A moratorium on new licenses under § 270-11 runs through June 30, 2028.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or violating the recordkeeping, minor-dealing, or hours rules of Chapter 270, can draw a fine of not less than $300 under § 270-10, plus license suspension or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do secondhand shops need a license in Springfield, Massachusetts?
What records must Springfield secondhand dealers keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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