Wayne, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 154 of the Wayne Township Code regulates secondhand precious metals, gems and jewelry dealers, and § 154-2 is the licensing rule. The chapter covers that class of goods only; it is not a general junk or secondhand shop license. A dealer is any person, partnership, corporation or other entity, permanent or itinerant, that on one or more occasions buys or sells secondhand gold, silver, precious metals, gems or jewelry, and the definition includes anyone advertising the purchase or sale of those items.

Under § 154-2, each dealer must first register with the Chief of Police or designee. The Chief causes the applicant to be fingerprinted and runs the investigation of background and business responsibility that he or she deems necessary for the protection of the public welfare. For a corporation or partnership, the officers or partners are treated as the applicants and are fingerprinted and investigated. The Chief then issues or denies the license based on the investigation, and a licensee receives a copy of Chapter 154.

Section 154-3 sets the fee by reference to Chapter 75, Fees, and makes the license non-transferable. It terminates on December 31 of the year of issue.

Ongoing duties are strict. Under § 154-4, a dealer keeps a complete record of each purchase and sale, including the amount paid, an item description and any identifying numbers or engravings, plus the seller's name, address, date of birth and driver's license number with state of issuance. These go on the Secondhand Jewelry Transaction Receipt form supplied by the Wayne Police Department. Under § 154-5, the descriptions must reach the Chief of Police within 48 hours of the transaction, with photographs of the items, delivered in person or electronically as .pdf or .jpg files. Under § 154-6, no dealer can sell, melt, change the form of or dispose of an item within 45 days of purchase, and the items must be available to police for at least 45 days. Under § 154-7, dealers must require identification and cannot transact with a minor, meaning anyone under 18, or with anyone intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics.