JUNK DEALERS

SJ-MC tit. 6, ch. 6.42

in effect

San José Municipal Code § 6.42.010 Permit requirements.

6.42.010 - Permit requirements. Before any person shall engage in the business of buying or selling old rope, iron, brass, copper, tin, lead, rags, empty bottles, paper, bagging or other junk, whether at a fixed place of business or as an itinerant peddler, he shall make an application to the city council for permission to engage in such business. Said application shall be referred to the chief of police, who shall make an investigation concerning the character of the applicant, and within seven days shall report thereon to the council. Upon receiving such report, the council shall grant or deny the applicant permission to engage in such business; and such permission shall be granted unless it shall appear that the applicant is not a person of good moral character or has not a good character in respect to honesty and integrity. The city council may revoke permission to conduct such business for violation of this chapter or conducting the same in an unlawful manner. (Prior code § 6707.18.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.42.020 Itinerant junk peddler - Separate license fee required.

6.42.020 - Itinerant junk peddler - Separate license fee required. No person engaged in the business of operating a junk shop or junkyard shall engage in business as an itinerant junk peddler without paying a separate license fee therefor. (Prior code § 6707.23.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.42.030 Pawnbroking and purchasing from certain persons prohibited.

6.42.030 - Pawnbroking and purchasing from certain persons prohibited. No owner or keeper of a junk shop or junkyard shall receive any personal property by way of pledge or pawn, nor shall any owner or keeper of a junk shop or junkyard engage in the business of pawnbroking on the same premises wherein a junk shop or junkyard is located; nor shall he or any person in his employ buy any junk from minors under eighteen years of age, intoxicated persons, or known thieves. (Prior code § 6707.21.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.42.040 Hours of business.

6.42.040 - Hours of business. No junk peddler shall purchase or collect any junk in the city between the hours of six p.m. and six a.m. (Prior code § 6707.22.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.42.050 Five-day holding period.

6.42.050 - Five-day holding period. All junk purchased by owners or keepers of junk shops or junkyards shall be held for a period of at least five days before the same shall be sold. (Prior code § 6707.20.)

San José Municipal Code § 6.42.060 Bound book of transactions required.

6.42.060 - Bound book of transactions required. Every person operating a junk shop or junkyard shall keep at his place of business a substantial, well-bound book and shall promptly enter therein an exact description of all personal property purchased by him, date of purchase, name and residence of place of business of the person from whom purchased, and all particular or prominent marks of identification that may be found on such property; said book shall be kept neat and clean, and all entries made therein shall be neatly and legibly written in ink. Said book shall at all times during the ordinary hours of business be open to the inspection of the chief of police or any police officer of the police department of the city. (Prior code § 6707.19.)

Source: City of San José, Municipal Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BULIRE_CH6.42JUDEFetched: 11/1/2026