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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Licensing agency
Merced County Sheriff
Background check
California Department of Justice, 30 days
License term
1 year, renewable annually
Record mailing
Weekly, every Monday, to Merced
Resale hold
7 days after mailing report
Misdemeanor penalty
Per state law, escalating by offense

Summary

Secondhand dealers in unincorporated Merced County must hold a Sheriff-issued license before buying, selling, or taking in secondhand goods, clearing a Department of Justice background check for stolen-property offenses, and keep detailed weekly transaction records for Sheriff inspection.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Merced County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

It shall be unlawful in unincorporated areas of Merced County for any person to engage in the business of second hand dealer as defined by Section 6.44.010(A) hereof; without having first obtained a license as provided by Section 6.44.030. ... The Sheriff shall accept an application for and grant a license permitting the licensee to engage in the business of secondhand dealer to an applicant who has not been convicted of an attempt to receive stolen property or any other offense involving stolen property. Prior to the granting of a license, the licensing authority shall submit the application to the Department of Justice.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).

Full Breakdown

030. The Sheriff grants a license to an applicant who has not been convicted of attempting to receive stolen property or any offense involving stolen property, but must first submit the application to the California Department of Justice; if DOJ does not comment within 30 days, the Sheriff may issue the license using state-prescribed forms available at the Sheriff's office. 040(A)). 040(B)). 070).

Violations & Fines

A violation of the license requirements in Sections 6.44.020 or 6.44.030 is a misdemeanor under Section 6.44.050, punished as state law prescribes for first, second, and third offenses, and a dealer who fails to follow the recordkeeping duties of Section 6.44.070, including the seven-day hold before resale and the weekly report to the Sheriff, can have the license forfeited and the business enjoined under Section 6.44.040(B).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Merced County require a license to run a secondhand shop?
Yes. Section 6.44.020 makes it unlawful to engage in the business of secondhand dealer in the unincorporated county without first obtaining a license, which the Sheriff issues under Section 6.44.030 only after a Department of Justice background check for stolen-property offenses.
How long before a secondhand dealer can resell a purchased item?
Section 6.44.070 requires the dealer to hold every article sold, pledged, or purchased for seven days after mailing the weekly transaction report to the Sheriff's office in Merced, giving law enforcement time to check the item against stolen-property reports.
Can a Merced County secondhand dealer buy from a minor?
No. Section 6.44.040(B) makes dealing in secondhand goods with a minor a ground for forfeiting the dealer's license and enjoining the business, alongside operating outside the licensed building or failing to display the license where customers can see it.
What records must a Merced County secondhand dealer keep?
Section 6.44.070 requires a record of every item sold, pledged, or purchased, showing the date, the seller's name, address, and signature, the amount paid, a full item description including serial numbers, and the seller's vehicle license plate, mailed weekly to the Sheriff's office in Merced.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Merced County

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All Merced County rules

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