AZ
Scottsdale, AZ · city specifics
What's specific to Scottsdale
Verified for 2026Confidence: Confirmed
This page covers only what's specific to Scottsdale. For the state-wide rules, read the Arizona guide.Arizona guideAt a glance
Local permit
YesSecondhand Dealer license (Scottsdale Revised Code Ch. 16, Art. IX)
Where to apply
City of Scottsdale — Licensing & Revenue (the Director); the Police Department assists
Reporting system
Scottsdale Police Department transaction reporting
Holding period
10 days
Fees
$200 for the first year, then $100 annually; fingerprint fee up to $40; duplicate license $10 (§ 16-333, § 16-334)
Fingerprinting
Yes
Want the whole picture? Get the federal, state and Scottsdale rules together, for how you buy and sell.
Build my Scottsdale plan →Scottsdale requires a Secondhand Dealer license under Chapter 16, Article IX of the Revised Code. The specifics below are what Scottsdale adds on top of the state rules — the state-wide substance is in the Arizona guide.
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
- Secondhand Dealer license (Scottsdale Revised Code Ch. 16, Art. IX)
- Who it applies to
- A "secondhand dealer" is anyone buying, selling, trading, or taking on consignment secondhand goods, including jewelry, precious metals, and gold, silver, or platinum (§ 16-311); a watch is a "precious item." People who deal strictly and solely in selling are exempt (§ 16-312(1)), but a dealer who buys is not, and the low-value exemptions (§ 16-312(9)–(10)) do not reach precious items. Nonprofits and dealer-to-dealer transactions are exempt.
- Reporting system
- Scottsdale Police Department transaction reporting
- What must be reported
- Every reportable transaction — an item received by purchase, trade, exchange, or consignment — unless exempt. Reports include an item description with serial number, the seller's ID and description, and the amount paid (§§ 16-338, 16-338.1).
- Reporting cadence
- Hard-copy reports within 48 hours (electronic within 24 hours once the police e-reporting system is in place). Report forms cost $2.00 each, or a dealer may instead pay a $400/month flat reporting fee (§ 16-338). Keep copies on the premises for 24 months.
- Holding period
- 10 daysReportable property must stay in the dealer's custody in Maricopa County, unaltered and on the premises, for at least 10 days and at least 10 days since it was reported to police (§ 16-339). A police investigative hold may run 120 days, extendable (§ 16-342).
- Fingerprinting
- YesAll applicants, controlling persons, and covered employees must appear to be fingerprinted; the fingerprint fee is up to $40 and includes the AZ DPS criminal-history cost (§ 16-334). Applicants also meet with the police and are photographed (§ 16-332).
- Zoning / home office
- Not confirmed — check with the city
- Fees
- $200 for the first year, then $100 annually; fingerprint fee up to $40; duplicate license $10 (§ 16-333, § 16-334)Renewal: Annual (a one-year license); the renewal application is due at least 60 days before expiration (§ 16-333, § 16-334.2)Source reviewed: 2026-09-20 (Scottsdale Revised Code, current version dated Jun 10, 2026)
Confirm with your city
Anything marked “Not confirmed” above wasn't in the source we reviewed. Before you rely on it, confirm the permit, fee, reporting system, and holding period directly with the city office listed here, and check the sources at the bottom of this page.
Does this apply to you?
Some of these rules turn on how you actually operate. Answer a question and we’ll show what the rule says for that answer — with the citation. This is general information, not a legal determination about your business.
Where do the watches you buy come from?
Scottsdale requires reporting every reportable transaction to police, but Chapter 16 carries a merchant-to-merchant exemption (§ 16-338(f)).
Things to confirm
Confidence: ConfirmedOpen items a professional should verify before you rely on this page.
- Confirm the exact scope of the § 16-338(f) merchant-to-merchant reporting exemption before relying on it for dealer-to-dealer purchases.
Turn this guide into your plan
Answer a few questions about how you buy and sell. The compliance checker puts Scottsdale's rules together with the rest — federal, state and city — in one checklist, every step with its official source. It's free, and your plan is emailed to you.
Build my Scottsdale plan →Tell me when Scottsdale, AZ changes
Permits, fees and holding periods change without notice. We'll email you when this guide is re-verified, and what changed.
Sources
- City of Scottsdale SECONDHAND/PAWN/CONSIGNMENT APPLICATION; form FSCS2004-811SA rev. 03/2019; three pages; issued by Scottsdale Business Services. The form is used for a NEW BUSINESS; a NEW OWNER OF AN EXISTING BUSINESS; or an INFORMATION UPDATE; and records the type of ownership (individual; general or limited partnership; corporation or LLC). Section 3 collects the applicant's full name; business name; complete business address; complete mailing address; business and mobile telephone; email; and A DESCRIPTION OF SECONDHAND ACTIVITY. The city's own processing block on page 1 records the SECONDHAND LICENCE NUMBER; the FEE; the date and initials for delivery of the GENERAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE TO APPLICANT and separately the SECONDHAND ORDINANCE TO APPLICANT; and the ADOR / CITY SALES TAX LICENCE NUMBER - so a state or city transaction privilege tax licence number is expected at the time of application. The form warns that FALSE OR INCOMPLETE ANSWERS OR OMISSIONS MAY RESULT IN NON-ACCEPTANCE; DENIAL OR SUBSEQUENT REVOCATION of a licence; and directs that non-applicable questions be answered N/A rather than left blank. Later sections collect the legal name; title or position and personal details of each person requiring a records check — retrieved 2026-09-23 · 2019-03
- Scottsdale Revised Code Ch. 16 Art. IX (Secondhand Dealers; Scrap Metal Dealers; Junk Dealers; Pawnbrokers; Auctioneers and Auction Houses) - definitions; exemptions; licence; fees; fingerprints. 16-311 SECONDHAND DEALER means any person engaged in conducting; managing or carrying on the business of BUYING; SELLING; TRADING OR EXCHANGING; OR ACCEPTING FOR SALE ON CONSIGNMENT; or otherwise dealing in secondhand goods; wares; merchandise or articles; INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANTIQUES; JEWELRY; PRECIOUS METALS; GOLD; SILVER; PLATINUM; PRECIOUS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES; whether or not the business is the principal or sole business conducted or is rather a part thereof OR INCIDENTAL TO IT. PRECIOUS ITEM means gold; silver; platinum or jewelry; flatware or holloware containing gold; silver or platinum; precious or semiprecious stones whether mounted or unmounted and pearls; PRECIOUS ITEM DOES NOT INCLUDE COINS AND UNMOUNTED GEMSTONES ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE from an independent; internationally recognized gem grading laboratory. CONTROL is presumed at TEN PERCENT or more of voting securities; and CONTROLLING PERSON includes an agent and an ON-SITE MANAGER who directs daily operation whether or not they hold any ownership interest. SECONDHAND; AUCTION HOUSE OR PAWN EMPLOYEE means any person employed by or contracted to work for such a business whose job duties at any time involve handling the kinds of items that characterize the business. 16-312 EXEMPTIONS - the article does NOT apply to (1) PERSONS WHO ENGAGE STRICTLY AND SOLELY IN THE SELLING of secondhand goods; (3) used books; tires; clothing; COINS NOT SET IN A BEZEL; postage stamps; trading cards; comic books; furniture other than appliances; and works of art placed on consignment by the original artist; sports memorabilia valued at $100.00 or less; (4) IRC 501(c) organizations; (6) DVDs; CDs; videos; vinyl records; tapes and games; (8) goods from a business in lawful liquidation; with documentation retained ONE YEAR; (9) goods that are NOT a precious item AND bear no serial or owner applied number AND have a fair market value LESS THAN $100.00; (10) home decor items with no serial number under $500.00. 16-331 LICENCE REQUIRED; it is IN ADDITION to any other licences and is NONTRANSFERABLE person-to-person or location-to-location. 16-332 PRIOR TO ISSUANCE THE APPLICANT MUST MEET PERSONALLY WITH A DESIGNATED POLICE REPRESENTATIVE to review the reporting requirements and TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED for identification; that does not apply to renewals. Time frames: 15 days to determine administrative completeness; 45 days substantive review; NINETY DAYS OVERALL to grant or deny. 16-333 FEES: SECONDHAND DEALERS; pawnbrokers; junk dealers; scrap metal dealers; auctioneers and auction houses TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND THEREAFTER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) ANNUALLY; each applicant or person requiring a records check and fingerprinting pays the applicable fees; DUPLICATE LICENCE $10.00 (no charge if sent electronically); recovery of fees for prior unlicensed periods runs UP TO FOUR PREVIOUS YEARS; all licences are for ONE YEAR. 16-334 FINGERPRINTS: ALL APPLICANTS; ALL CONTROLLING PERSONS; AND SECONDHAND; AUCTION HOUSE OR PAWN EMPLOYEES shall PERSONALLY APPEAR to be fingerprinted; FEES OWED TO THE CITY SHALL NOT EXCEED FORTY DOLLARS ($40.00) including the actual cost of obtaining criminal history information from the Arizona Department of Public Safety; the police department conducts a background investigation of the applicant OR EMPLOYEE. 16-334.2 a renewal application must be filed NO LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS BEFORE EXPIRATION — retrieved 2026-09-23 · current version Jun 10 2026
- Scottsdale Revised Code Ch. 16 Art. IX - reporting; holding period; minors; estate sales. 16-338 REPORTS: every auction house; junk dealer; pawnbroker or secondhand dealer shall AT THE TIME OF A REPORTABLE TRANSACTION complete an accurate and legible report on forms provided or in a manner approved by the police department. (b) THE REQUIRED FORMS ARE PAID FOR IN ADVANCE AND THE COST OF EACH REPORT FORM SHALL BE TWO DOLLARS ($2.00). (c) completed HARD COPY reports shall be delivered or postmarked WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS after receipt of the property; that requirement is superseded on implementation of an electronic reporting system; after which the hard copies SHALL BE MAINTAINED ON THE PREMISES FOR TWENTY-FOUR (24) MONTHS. (d) all reports shall ALSO be transmitted ELECTRONICALLY WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS after receipt of the property; effective on implementation of the electronic system. (e) subsection (b) does not apply for any calendar month in which the licensee PAYS THE CITY IN ADVANCE A MONTHLY FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR ($400.00) TRANSACTION REPORTING FEE; paid at least TEN BUSINESS DAYS before that month. (f) reporting is INAPPLICABLE to transactions involving articles exempted under 16-312 or 16-317; or SOLELY BETWEEN MERCHANTS LICENSED under the article. (g) A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS A CLASS THREE MISDEMEANOR. (i) REPORTABLE TRANSACTION means the receipt of goods and articles by a licensee; whether received on deposit; in pawn; pledge or CONSIGNMENT; trade or exchange; or by purchase. 16-338.1 CONTENTS: a complete description including BRAND NAME; COLOR AND SERIAL NUMBER if any; the date and time received; THE SIGNATURE OF THE PERSON FROM WHOM THE PROPERTY WAS RECEIVED; their name; address and date of birth; the type of identification displayed and ALL IDENTIFYING NUMBERS ON IT; the initials of the licensee or employee receiving the property plus the business code issued by the MARICOPA COUNTY PAWN SYSTEM; the physical description of the person including height; sex; weight; race; hair and eye colour; and the amount paid for each item WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ANY AND ALL FEES RELATED TO THE TRANSACTION. A RIGHT THUMBPRINT IS REQUIRED IN REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS OF A PAWNBROKER ONLY. A hard copy of each report is retained TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS at the place of business. 16-339 HOLDING PERIOD: property shall not be sold; transferred; exchanged or otherwise disposed of UNTIL IT HAS BEEN IN THE CUSTODY OF THE REPORTING LICENSEE AND IN MARICOPA COUNTY FOR AT LEAST TEN (10) DAYS AND AT LEAST TEN DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE IT WAS REPORTED; the holding period for articles received in reportable transactions OF A PAWNBROKER SHALL BE TWENTY (20) DAYS. (c) during the holding period the licensee SHALL PRESERVE THE PROPERTY IN THE CONDITION IN WHICH IT WAS RECEIVED AND SHALL NOT DISMANTLE; SCRAP; MELT DOWN; PRESS; TRANSFORM OR OTHERWISE DISFIGURE IT; and ALL ITEMS WILL REMAIN ON THE PREMISES of the place of business where they were taken in. 16-341 MINORS: no licensee or merchant shall buy; accept on consignment; trade or otherwise accept merchandise from any person UNDER EIGHTEEN UNLESS THE MINOR FIRST PRODUCES A NOTARIZED LETTER SIGNED BY THE MINOR'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN granting permission; a PAWNBROKER may not transact with a person under eighteen at all. 16-317 ESTATE SALES: the requirements of the article APPLY TO GOODS OR ARTICLES THAT ARE CONSIDERED PRECIOUS ITEMS EVEN WHEN INCLUDED AS PART OF AN ESTATE SALE; and a person conducting an estate sale retains the written agreement for ONE YEAR. 16-342 PROPERTY CONNECTED WITH A CRIME: no secondhand dealer shall dispose of property when advised by a law enforcement representative that there are REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THE PROPERTY IS THE FRUIT OR EVIDENCE OF A CRIME or was used as a weapon or otherwise in its perpetration; and shall SURRENDER SUCH PROPERTY ON DEMAND. (b) the licensee is given a SEIZED PROPERTY RECEIPT; or the item MAY BE RETAINED WITHIN THE PLACE OF BUSINESS ON AN INVESTIGATIVE HOLD until the property is deemed CLEARED or ready to be seized; THE HOLD MUST BE RELEASED BY THE SAME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT PLACED IT; and where interest is accruing on the item THE ACCRUAL SHALL CEASE on notification. (c) property on hold MUST REMAIN IN THE SAME CONDITION AS WHEN THE HOLD WAS PLACED AND MUST STAY IN THE PLACE OF BUSINESS that originally took the item in. (d) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL HAVE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS TO EITHER CLEAR OR SEIZE THAT ITEM; AND MAY EXTEND THE INVESTIGATIVE HOLD BEYOND 120 DAYS FOR ADDITIONAL 120-DAY PERIODS upon notice to the licensee given before the expiration of the current period — retrieved 2026-09-23 · current version Jun 10 2026
Not legal advice. Confirm with your city or state office and a qualified professional.
Get help
Talk to a local attorney
Schedule a consultation with an attorney who handles secondhand-dealer licensing and small-business compliance near Scottsdale, AZ. Confirm anything on this page, and get advice for your specific situation.
We're not a law firm and don't refer, rank, or endorse anyone. This opens a public Google Maps search, ordered by Google, not by us. Vet anyone yourself, confirm they handle secondhand-dealer licensing and small-business compliance, and remember nothing on this page is legal advice.