What's specific to Tucson

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

Secondhand Dealer license (Tucson Code Ch. 7, Art. V), issued through the City Finance Department

Who it applies to

A "secondhand dealer" is anyone dealing in secondhand goods, including jewelry, precious metals, and any item bearing a serial number regardless of value, or anything over $100 (Tucson Code § 7-97). Watches are not left to inference: § 7-97(2) defines jewelry to include "watches, clocks and goods, wares and merchandise commonly classified as jewelry." The definition also reaches anyone conducting the business at a location that is not their actual business address — "such as a hotel, meeting hall, convention center, or other short term leased or rented location" (§ 7-97(3)(b)(2)), which is a watch show. Exemptions: nonprofits, dealer-to-dealer transactions, and estate sales (§ 7-97(3)). A license from the Finance Department is required, and dealers must attend police training (§ 7-102(b)).

Office

City of Tucson Finance Department (business license); transaction reports go to the Tucson Police Department

Reporting system

Tucson Police Department transaction reporting (electronic, as approved by the chief of police)

What must be reported

Enumerated goods including jewelry, precious metals, and any item bearing a serial number, plus anything over $100 (§ 7-98). Reports include the seller's ID and description, an item description with serial number, and the amount paid (§ 7-99).

Reporting cadence

Within 2 business days of receipt, in English, on forms provided by the chief of police and delivered electronically as the chief approves (§§ 7-98, 7-100). Each report covers no more than three items. A $3.00 fee applies per report, billed quarterly and payable on 20 April, July, October and January (§ 7-100(c))

Holding period

20 daysA dealer may not sell reportable goods until 20 days after filing the transaction report (§ 7-102(a)(4)) — and the ordinance is specific about when that clock starts: the retention period "begins upon receipt of the electronic transmission of the transaction report," not at purchase, so late reporting pushes your own release date back. Separately, police may place an investigative hold of up to 90 days on property believed stolen, initiated by a call and confirmed in writing within three days (§ 7-101(c)). Transaction records are kept at the place of business, in English, entered at the time of the transaction, for at least two years from the last entry (§ 7-101(a)).

Fingerprinting

Unclear — check with the cityThe seller's fingerprint is required on the transaction report as required by state law (§ 7-99(10)). Whether the license applicant is separately fingerprinted is set by the Finance Department's business-license process, which was not separately reviewed.

Zoning / home office

Not confirmed — check with the city

Fees

Tucson doesn't set a separate secondhand-dealer fee in Chapter 7 — you obtain the City business license through the Finance Department. That's a $25 nonrefundable application, plus a first-year license fee of up to $50 (prorated by quarter), under Tucson Code § 19-39; a separate transaction-privilege/use-tax license is $20 (§ 19-320). A $3.00 per-report fee applies to each police report (§ 7-100).Renewal: Business-license renewal $50 per year, due January 1 (Tucson Code § 19-39); privilege/use-tax license renewal $20 (§ 19-320)Source reviewed: 2026-09-21 (Tucson Code §§ 7, 19-39, 19-320, 2026 S-150)