Loudoun County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- Loudoun County Sheriff (§830.04)
- Record retention
- 12-month electronic transaction file
- Reporting deadline
- within 24 hours of purchase
- Covered goods
- electronics, GPS units, instruments, tools, appliances, TVs
- Minimum seller age
- 18 years old
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor per Section 830.14
Summary
Any Loudoun County business that resells used electronics, GPS units, musical instruments, power tools, small appliances, or televisions is a 'secondhand article dealer' under county law and needs a Sheriff-issued permit before buying a single used item, plus a 12-month electronic transaction log and next-day reporting to the Sheriff's Office.
“Secondhand article dealer or dealer.” Any entity engaged in the re-sale of the following items of personal property, previously owned or used, which are not purchased or sold as new: (1) Computers... (2) Any other electronic device...; (3) Global Positioning Systems; (4) Musical instruments; (5) Power tools; (6) Small home appliances...; (7) Televisions... It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any dealer to engage in any activity subject to regulation under this article without first obtaining a permit from the Sheriff... Every dealer shall keep at his place of business, for at least 12 months, an electronic file in which shall be recorded at the time of the purchase, an accurate account of each transaction.
Full Breakdown
02(b) as any entity reselling previously owned computers and components, other electronic devices, GPS units, musical instruments, power tools, small home appliances, or televisions, expressly excluding merchant-to-merchant inventory purchases and manufacturer trade-in programs. 03. 05(a)(2), and the permit, valid one year, non-transferable, posted at the business, issues only after that review. 07(b) requires each dealer to keep an electronic file for at least 12 months recording every purchase: item description, acquisition date, serial number, weight if metal, a photograph, and the seller's name, date of birth, home address, driver's license number, and a copy of their government-issued photo ID.
09 lets the Sheriff inspect the dealer's premises and records without a warrant during business hours. 11 bars dealers from buying from anyone under 18 or accepting goods with an obliterated serial number without alerting the Sheriff first.
Violations & Fines
Buying or selling secondhand articles without the Sheriff's permit, failing to keep the 12-month electronic transaction log, or missing the 24-hour reporting deadline is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Section 830.14, with continued unpermitted operation charged as a separate offense each day; the Sheriff may also suspend or revoke the permit under Section 830.12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What items make a Loudoun County business a 'secondhand dealer' needing a permit?
How long does a Loudoun County secondhand dealer have to keep purchase records?
Can a Loudoun County secondhand dealer buy from a minor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
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