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

§5.28.020 adopts the state definition of 'secondhand dealer' from Business & Professions Code §21626 and folds cash-for-gold stores and exchange dealers into that same category, excluding coin dealers and federally defined gun-show participants. §5.28.030 requires a Police Chief permit before operating, separate from any state Department of Justice secondhand dealer license, and §5.28.040 exempts only religious, charitable or nonprofit periodic sales and certain equipment received from known governmental or business sources. Article II's operating standards apply whether or not a dealer is subject to the permit requirement: secondhand dealers must keep a DOJ-approved record of every transaction including the seller's signature, address, thumbprint and valid ID under §5.28.090, and, unlike pawnbrokers' and secondhand jewelry dealers' 24-hour window, must deliver a copy of that record to the Chief of Police within 48 hours excluding Sundays and holidays under §5.28.100.

Dealers must also keep duplicate perforated receipt books marked 'This is a sale and not a pledge' under §5.28.120, close on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and otherwise operate only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. Saturdays and pre-holiday days) under §5.28.060. Articles received must be tagged for identification under §5.28.200, held 30 days before resale absent a longer police hold order under §5.28.170 and §5.28.180, and dealers may not buy from intoxicated persons or unemancipated minors under §5.28.150 and §5.28.210.