Wilmington secondhand dealers and pawnshops must register with Wilmington Police, retain purchased goods for a holding period, and report transactions to assist in stolen-property recovery under Delaware Title 24.
Secondhand dealers, pawnbrokers, and precious-metals buyers operating in Wilmington must comply with Delaware Title 24 Chapter 23 (secondhand dealers), which requires record-keeping of seller identification, item descriptions, and transaction dates. Wilmington Police Department maintains reporting protocols and may inspect logs. Items typically must be held for a state-mandated period before resale to allow theft recovery. A city business license under Chapter 5 is also required, plus location-based zoning compliance.
Failure to keep transaction logs, refusing police inspection, or failing to honor holding periods can result in license revocation, fines, and criminal charges under DE Title 24.
See how Wilmington's secondhand dealers rules stack up against other locations.
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