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

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

Key Facts

License required
Precious metal dealer, § 4-9.1
Annual license fee
$100, no proration
Application fee
$100, nonrefundable
Item hold period
10 business days
Police report deadline
72 hours after purchase

Summary

Anyone buying or reselling secondhand jewelry, watches or precious metals from the public in Woodbridge must be a licensed "precious metal dealer" under § 4-9.1, keep a bound, sequentially numbered purchase ledger, and hold every item for 10 business days before resale or melting.

No person, organization or business entity shall be permitted to (i) purchase; or (ii) sell or resell; precious metals or jewelry from or to, either (x) members of the public or (y) any person, organization or business entity; for the purpose of sale to the public, smelting or destruction, unless they are a precious metal dealer as defined in Subsection 4-9.1b and have obtained a license for the Township as required by Subsection 4-9.1c. A precious metal dealer shall be a person or business entity whose primary business operation is the retail sale to members of the public of jewelry, watches, keepsakes, statues, figurines and/or precious items. Precious metal dealers must prior to engaging in business activities be licensed by the Township in accordance with the procedure set forth herein.

Full Breakdown

1 bars purchasing, selling or reselling precious metals or jewelry to or from the public, or for smelting or destruction, unless the business is a licensed precious metal dealer, defined as one whose primary operation is retail sale of jewelry, watches, keepsakes, statues or precious items. 2 must be filed with the Police Director and name every principal or stockholder, list business hours and locations, disclose any arrests or convictions, and include a photograph of the day-to-day manager, who must also be fingerprinted. 4). 10).

11 then bars the dealer from selling, melting or changing the form of any purchased item for 10 business days after that notification, holding it at the dealer's place of business or home address in the meantime. 12.

Violations & Fines

Section 4-9.13 ties any violation of the precious metal dealer rules to the Township's general penalty at Chapter 1, § 1-5: a fine up to $2,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each day of continued noncompliance treated as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to buy old jewelry from the public in Woodbridge?
Yes. Section 4-9.1 requires anyone purchasing or reselling precious metals or jewelry from the public to be a licensed precious metal dealer, registered with the Police Director and holding a Township license.
How long must a Woodbridge dealer hold purchased jewelry before reselling it?
Ten business days from the date the dealer reports the purchase to the Police Director, under § 4-9.11, during which it cannot be sold, melted or altered.
What records must a secondhand precious metal dealer keep?
A bound, sequentially numbered ledger with the sale date, seller's name and address, item description, purchase price, a color photo, and a copy of the seller's ID, per §§ 4-9.5 through 4-9.8, reported to police within 72 hours.

Sources & Official References

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