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Washington, DC Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

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

Key Facts

License required for
buying, selling, trading secondhand property
First stolen-goods fine
$2,500 mandatory fine
Third violation penalty
$10,000 plus revocation notice
License endorsement type
Inspected Sales and Services
Excluded from 'secondhand'
trade-in credits, refunds, repossessions

Summary

In Washington, D.C., anyone buying, selling, or trading secondhand personal property must obtain a dealer license from the Mayor before operating, with fees set by dealer classification under D.C. Code § 47-2837.

Any person engaging in the business of buying, selling, trading, exchanging, or dealing in secondhand personal property of any description...shall be regarded as a dealer, and shall obtain the appropriate license and pay the fee therefor fixed by the Mayor.

Source: DC Code Secondhand DealersView official code

Full Breakdown

The D.C. Council classifies secondhand dealers by the kind of property handled, and the Mayor sets a license fee for each class under D.C. Code § 47-2837(a)-(b). Anyone who buys, sells, trades, or exchanges secondhand personal property in the District must obtain the appropriate dealer license and pay the fee, though items taken as trade-in credit, refund exchanges, or repossessions don't count as 'secondhand' under § 47-2837(c). Licenses issue as Inspected Sales and Services or General Sales endorsements to a basic business license. Under § 47-2844(a-2), the Mayor must fine a licensee $2,500 for a first violation involving knowingly stolen merchandise, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for a third, with premises sealable for up to 96 hours.

Violations & Fines

Operating as a secondhand dealer without the required license risks license denial; dealers caught knowingly trading stolen merchandise face escalating fines of $2,500, $5,000, then $10,000, plus a 96-hour premises seal and eventual license revocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to run a pawn or secondhand shop in Washington, D.C.?
Yes. D.C. Code § 47-2837 requires anyone buying, selling, or trading secondhand personal property to obtain the Mayor-issued dealer license and pay the classification-based fee before operating.
What happens if a D.C. secondhand dealer is caught with stolen goods?
Under § 47-2844(a-2), the Mayor issues escalating fines of $2,500, then $5,000, then $10,000, and can seal the shop for 96 hours or move toward revoking the license.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington

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All Washington rules

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