Secondhand Personal Property Dealers License

Who must be licensed?

Any person conducting the business of buying, obtaining, acquiring or receiving secondhand personal property and any person engaged as an auctioneer. Personal property means radios and other audio equipment; televisions and other video equipment; photographic, optical and computer equipment; typewriters, calculators and other electronic or electrical home or office appliances; machines or equipment; firearms; bicycles; jewelry; furs, leather goods; watches; paintings; fine or historic china, crystal, glass or porcelain; objects d'art; power tools; carpets and rugs; musical instruments; and any item serialized, marked for personal identification purposes, or engraved.

Who does not need to be licensed?

Any person that buys the covered personal property at a sale open to the public and held in a location open and accessible to the public pursuant to public notice of the time and place of the sale such as will afford the public a reasonable opportunity to participate in the sale.

What is the process?

Call Nellie Miller, Office of Consumer Protection, at 240-777-3727 to receive an application, copy of the law and regulations. The application fee is $25.00. Licenses are valid for one year. All licenses expire on July 30th. The fee for initial applications received after February is $12.50.

Are there penalties for failure to obtain a license?

Any person who fails to obtain the license is subject to a $500.00 Civil Citation and an Order for Abatement. Failure to comply with the Order is subject to contempt proceedings.