What's specific to Miami

At a glance

Local details

Everything a city page adds on top of the state rules. Fields that weren't found in the source are marked so — confirm them with the city, never assume.

Permit required

Yes

Official name

Business Tax Receipt (BTR), City of Miami Code Ch. 31 — classification 3280, 'Secondhand dealers, jewelry or precious metals'

Who it applies to

Miami has no secondhand-dealer ordinance of its own; the city's requirement is the Business Tax Receipt every business operating in the city needs, taken out under the classification that matches what you trade. The code note on classification 3280 says the licence "only allows the buying, selling and trading of used jewelry and other precious metals", so a dealer whose stock is broader may need more than one classification. Miami-Dade County levies its own business tax separately from the city's.

Office

City of Miami — Business Tax Receipt; records and purchase reports go to the Miami Police Department as the appropriate law enforcement official under state law

Reporting system

Miami Police Department (as the appropriate law enforcement official under Fla. Stat. § 538.03(1)(b))

What must be reported

Miami adds no reporting of its own. The state requirement applies: a transaction form completed at the time of the deal and a record delivered to the police chief within 24 hours, carrying the item's serial number and description, digital photographs, the seller's identification details and right thumbprint, and their signed statement of ownership.

Reporting cadence

Within 24 hours of acquiring the goods, under state law (§ 538.04).

Holding period

30 daysState law, not a Miami ordinance: 30 calendar days for a precious metal, gemstone, or jewelry, and 15 calendar days for other secondhand goods (§ 538.06). Miami has not enacted a stricter local period, which § 538.17 would permit.

Fingerprinting

YesThrough the state registration rather than the city: a complete set of fingerprints certified by an authorized law enforcement officer, forwarded by the Department of Revenue to FDLE (§ 538.09).

Zoning / home office

Florida preempts most of this: under § 559.955 a local government may not license or regulate a qualifying home-based business differently from any other business, and such a business may operate in an area zoned for residential use, subject only to the applicable local business taxes. The qualifying criteria cover who works at the dwelling, parking, and keeping the property's appearance consistent with the surrounding residential area. Miami's own hook is the BTR application, which requires a valid certificate of use from the office of zoning for the address you trade from.

Fees

$320.00 — classification 3280, secondhand dealers in jewelry or precious metals (classification 3290, secondhand dealers in used merchandise, is also $320.00)Renewal: Annual; the city's business tax year and renewal cycle applySource reviewed: 2026-09-22 (City of Miami Code Ch. 31, current as displayed)