Secondhand dealers, scrap-metal buyers, and resale shops in St. Louis must hold a city license, log seller ID for every transaction, and report sales electronically so SLMPD can trace stolen goods.
Title XI extends pawnbroker-style reporting rules to secondhand dealers, including jewelry buyers, coin shops, and scrap-metal yards. Each business holds a city license through the License Collector and uploads transaction records — seller ID, item description, photos — to a regional reporting platform shared with SLMPD. Catalytic converter and copper wire purchases face additional Missouri-mandated documentation under MO §407.300 to combat metal theft. Inspectors from the Building Division and SLMPD audit logs without notice; license revocation follows repeat reporting failures.
Failure to verify ID, missed electronic reports, or buying restricted scrap without documentation can trigger fines, license suspension, and felony exposure for receiving stolen property.
See how St. Louis's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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