License Required; Exception.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 92-23
in effect92-23. License Required; Exception.
1. LICENSE REQUIRED. It shall be unlawful to carry on, engage, or operate the business of pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, or precious metal and gem dealer without having first obtained a secondhand dealer’s license in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
2. SECONDHAND DEALER MALLS. The owner of a business at which 2 or more secondhand dealers are engaged in business by maintaining separate sales space and identifying themselves to the public as individual dealers may obtain a single license for that location. No individual licenses are required of the tenant occupants of such premises. No license shall be issued to the secondhand dealer mall unless each of the following requirements is met:
a. The business has a single name and address.
b. The business is under the unified control of one person, who shall hold the license.
c. All sales are consummated at a central point or register operated by the owner of the business, and the owner maintains a comprehensive account of all sales.
3. EXCEPTION. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the following:
a. Any party dealing exclusively in motor vehicles, stamps, audio and video media, baseball cards, books and magazines, works of fine art, or industrial machinery and equipment.
b. Any individual registered as an auctioneer under ch. 480, Wis. Stats.
c. Any transaction at an occasional garage or yard sale; estate sale; coin, gem, stamp or antique show; gun or knife show; convention; or auction.
d. Any nonprofit organization or any person conducting a sale from which the proceeds are donated to a nonprofit organization.
e. Any transaction between a buyer of new jewelry and the person who sold the jewelry when new which involves the return of the jewelry or the exchange of the jewelry for different, new jewelry.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH92.pdf#page=6Fetched: 10/26/2026