Texarkana, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- City Secretary
- Who must license
- Transient precious metal dealers
- Record requirement
- Bound receipt book, police-inspectable
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine per offense
Summary
Anyone buying used gold, silver, platinum, or gems in Texarkana as a transient dealer must apply to the city secretary for a license and keep a receipt-book record of every transaction.
Every transient precious metals dealer, as defined in section 34-47, shall make written application to the city secretary for a license to engage in the buying of precious metals. Such application shall show the name, address and date of birth of the applicant, the name and address of the person, form or corporation, if any, that the applicant represents, the kind of precious metal that will be bought and by what method the applicant will pay the seller. The application shall further state the inclusive dates during which the applicant wishes to purchase precious metals in the city.
(Code 1961, § 18-22; Ord. No. 328-80, § 1, 11-24-1980)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Texarkana's ordinance targets transient precious metal dealers: buyers of previously owned gold, silver, platinum, or gems who operate in the city for fewer than 30 consecutive days, with or without a fixed location. Before buying, the dealer must file a written application with the city secretary listing name, address, date of birth, and the specific dates they'll be purchasing in the city. Every transaction must be logged in a bound receipt book, available for police inspection anytime. The city secretary can revoke a license for false statements or unfair dealing. Fixed-location pawnshops fall under the separate state-regulated Texas Pawnshop Act instead.
Violations & Fines
Operating as an unlicensed transient precious metal dealer, or failing to keep required receipt records, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine for each offense; every acquired item counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover regular pawnshops?
What counts as a transient dealer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Texarkana
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