Westfield, IN Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)

Chapter 17, Article V of the Westfield City Code, Sec. 17-81 through 17-93, applies to "the owner or operator of any secondhand entity as defined herein." Sec. 17-81 exempts two groups from the article: not-for-profit charitable organizations that do not pay cash for donated secondhand property and use it in furtherance of their charitable mission, and retail stores that exclusively trade or purchase clothing. Every other secondhand entity operating in the City of Westfield, Indiana must satisfy Sec. 17-82 before opening: register with the Westfield Police Department, pay a $50.00 registration fee, and execute a $1,000.00 surety bond payable to Westfield, conditioned on complying with all city regulations governing secondhand entities.

Sec. 17-83 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association to engage in or continue operating a secondhand entity without first satisfying those registration requirements. Once registered, a secondhand entity must hold personal property it receives for resale or reclamation for at least seven days before reselling or reclaiming it, under Sec. 17-87. Sec. 17-93 sets the penalty for any violation of the article: any person, firm or corporation who violates any section of Chapter 17 is subject to a $500.00 fine, in addition to any other penalty the city's ordinances provide, with a separate offense deemed committed for each day the violation continues, enforced through Noblesville City Court under Westfield's interlocal agreement or through Hamilton County Circuit or Superior Court.