What's specific to Pittsburgh

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

Second Hand Dealer license (Pittsburgh Code ch. 717), issued by the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI)

Who it applies to

No one may run a business as an antique or second-hand dealer without a license (§ 717.01). A "second hand dealer" is anyone who wholly or partly buys and sells used goods "such as antiques, precious stones, metals and jewelry". The code says that list is not exclusive, and second-hand goods are any "purchased, salvaged or received from any person" (§ 717.02). Section 717.05 names watches outright, so a pre-owned watch dealer is covered whatever the case is made of. PLI's rules list the exemptions as "None." The documents due at submission are: a government photo ID; general liability insurance of $1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, naming the City as certificate holder and additional insured; a workers' compensation certificate, or a notarized statement that you have no employees; a Tax Compliance Letter from the City Department of Finance; a Certificate of Occupancy for retail use; an ePatch criminal record check; and, if the business buys or sells precious metals, an Allegheny County Precious Metals license from the Sheriff's Office. PLI's own rules word that last trigger as "If selling jewelry", which is broader. Whether PLI asks a steel-only watch dealer for the county license is not confirmed.

Office

Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI), OneStopPGH Counter, 412 Boulevard of the Allies. Apply online through OneStopPGH or in person. The county precious-metals license comes from the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, 436 Grant Street, Room 111.

Reporting system

A book record sent to the Superintendent of Police (city). Precious-metals transactions also go on WPAPM.org (county).

What must be reported

Keep a book, written legibly in English at the time you acquire each article. It records the article, the seller's name and address, and the buyer's name and address (§ 717.03). Neither the code nor PLI's rules name an electronic system for the city report. If you hold the county precious-metals license, the Sheriff's Office says "Each store must register with WPAPM.org". You then enter transactions there digitally, with an image for each. Whether a WPAPM entry also satisfies the state Act's copy to the district attorney was not confirmed.

Reporting cadence

Weekly. The previous business week's entries are due by 12:00 noon Monday (§ 717.04). The 1927 state act for cities of the second class asks for a report before noon on every business day. Whether that daily report applies on top of the weekly one is not resolved.

Holding period

30 daysYou may not sell or dispose of "antiques, precious stones, jewelry, watches, old gold, platinum, silver or other precious metals, or any similar articles" until 30 days after purchase. Other second-hand goods wait 7 days (§ 717.05). That covers steel watches as much as gold ones. PLI's rules add that every licensee keeps articles in the form, shape or condition they arrived in for at least 48 hours after receipt. The 1927 state act sets the same 30-day wait for watches. A gold or platinum watch bought from the public also carries the state precious-metals Act's hold of five full working days, which the 30 days outlast. Whether the 30 days reach a consigned watch, received rather than purchased, is not resolved.

Fingerprinting

NoFingerprinting is not among the requirements in ch. 717 or on PLI's list. Instead, PLI requires an ePatch criminal record check (the Pennsylvania State Police online check) for the applicant. Its fee was not researched.

Zoning / home office

A valid Certificate of Occupancy for a retail use is required. As the rules are written, a home-based or appointment-only dealer without a retail CO appears unable to get the license. Whether PLI licenses a non-storefront dealer at all is not confirmed.PLI's rules bar transacting "any business between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m." The 1927 state act sets different purchase hours of its own, and which limit governs is not resolved. Section 717.06 also bars buying from minors, intoxicated persons and known thieves. Section 717.07 provides for revocation on conviction for robbery, burglary, larceny, receiving stolen goods or similar crimes.

Fees

$135.00 for the initial license and each annual renewal (PLI 2026 Fee Schedule). If you buy or sell precious metals, the Allegheny County Precious Metals license adds two payments, by certified funds or money order only: a $50 license fee to the Sheriff and a $250 compliance fee to the County Treasurer. The insurance minimums are a real cost on top. The 1927 state act sets a license fee of its own, and how it relates to the city's is not resolved.Renewal: Annual. The license is valid for 365 days from issuance (§ 717.08), and a $50.00 late fee applies to each license.Source reviewed: 2026-10-03 (PLI 2026 Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026; Allegheny County Sheriff's Office precious-metals page)