Secondhand Dealers

Second Hand Dealers:   A second hand dealer is a person who is engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, trading, bartering or exchanging secondhand goods.  It does include pawnbrokers.  This license was created as a way to help regulate merchandise that could have a higher possibility of having been appropriated through theft.  This does not apply to garage sales; which are limited to any six days within a one year period.

Secondhand goods which are regulated through this program means all personal property which has been used or possessed previously by another and includes previously owned precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, jewelry, coins, firearms, hand and power tools, and any article with a manufacturer's serial number. 

A background check is processed for any applicant of a secondhand business license.  A recent photograph will also be required, along with a copy of a valid government issued identification.  Every dealer will keep track on a City form of all purchases of any pawned or secondhand goods as shown above.  The report must include an accurate and sufficiently detailed description of the secondhand goods purchased, plus information about the person from whom the item was purchased or acquired.  Further details are required, and are listed on the form.  Reports are submitted to the City within five days of the purchase of secondhand goods.  If the goods are acquired from an entity rather than an individual, then the dealer must provide that information as well. 

There are more requirements and performance standards for a secondhand dealer license, which can be obtained through Harrisburg Municipal Code 5.20.060.

Please contact the City Administrator or City Recorder/Assistant City Administrator for any questions in regards to a Second Hand Dealer Permit.