West Haven, CT Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 131 of the West Haven Code, Junk Dealers and Junkyards, was adopted by the City Council on 12-3-1962 by Ord. No. 17. Under § 131-1, a junk dealer is any person who engages in business as a dealer and trader in junk, old metals, scrap, rags, wastepaper or other secondhand articles, and a junkyard is any place where old metal, glass, paper, cordage or other waste or discarded or secondhand material not part of a motor vehicle is stored or deposited. Section 131-2 requires a license from the Chief of Police of the City of West Haven before anyone can engage in business as a junk dealer or operate a junkyard.

The Chief of Police cannot issue it until the applicant has registered with the Commissioner of the Connecticut State Police and obtained a certificate of registration for display (§ 131-3). Section 131-4 directs the Chief to issue the license to suitable persons who apply, sets the fee at $10 for each license, requires each license to designate the place where the business is carried on, and limits the term to one year unless sooner revoked. The Chief can revoke a license at any time for cause.

Zoning also controls: § 131-5 says no license is issued for a junkyard where the proposed location is prohibited by the building zone regulations of the City of West Haven. Section 131-6 exempts any dealer in motor vehicles and any dealer in antique household furniture, china or glassware from the chapter. Separately, the blight chapter treats abandoned and inoperable vehicles as a violation except at a junkyard legally licensed by the state.