SECONDHAND DEALERS GENERALLY

Columbus City Codes tit. 5, ch. 541

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 541.01 Definitions—Sign required.

541.01 - Definitions—Sign required. Unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context in which the words or phrases is used, when used in this Chapter, the following words are defined and shall have the meaning ascribed to them as hereafter set forth: (a) The term "secondhand dealer" means a person operating a store, shop, or other business outlet for the purpose of purchasing, selling, exchanging, or receiving secondhand articles of any kind on a continuing basis. (b) The term "secondhand articles" means any item which has previously been used or worn by another; something which is not new. (c) A person who is operating as a secondhand dealer in the city, shall post in a conspicuous place in or upon a shop, store, wagon, boat or other place of business, a sign having the name and occupation legibly inscribed thereon. (Ord. 1952-75; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 541.02 Record information.

541.02 - Record information. (a) All secondhand dealers shall keep a separate book in which shall be written, in the English language, the following specified items: (1) A complete description including serial number where available of any article listed in subsection (b) hereof, which has been purchased or received by said dealer; and (2) The name, address, social security number, driver's license number and automobile license number of the vehicle of the person from whom such article was purchased or exchanged; and (3) The date when such purchase or exchange was made. (b) This section shall apply in those instances where the article purchased or received by the dealer is any secondhand, scrap iron, old metal, canvas, rope, branded bottles, junk or lead pipe, household furniture or furnishings, household appliances, office equipment, coins, jewelry, clothing, weapons, bicycles, toys and/or electronic equipment. (c) Every entry shall be numbered consecutively, commencing with the number one. (d) All books or records which are required to be maintained as a result of this section, shall be open to inspection by any of the following persons, or their duly authorized agent: (1) The mayor; (2) The Director of Building and Zoning Services; (3) The chief of police. Upon demand by any of the previously specified persons, the secondhand dealer shall also produce and show the article or articles thus listed and described which are in the secondhand dealer's possession. (Ord. 1952-75; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 541.03 Daily reports to police.

541.03 - Daily reports to police. The purchaser of an article described in C.C. 541.01 shall prepare and deliver each day to the chief of police before 12:00 noon, on forms to be furnished by the chief of police, a legible and correct copy written in English, from such book containing a complete description of each article purchased or received during the preceding day, the date the purchase was made, and a description as to name, address, and license number of the automobile of the person from whom it was purchased. (Ord. 1174-68; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 541.04 Retention of articles.

541.04 - Retention of articles. Articles purchased or exchanged, as provided in C.C. 541.01, shall be retained by the purchaser thereof for at least seven days before disposing of them, in an accessible place, in the confines where such articles are purchased or received. However, this section shall not apply to purchases by a processor when buying directly from junk yards or legitimate business concerns producing said articles in the course of its business. (Ord. 1174-68.)

Columbus City Codes § 541.05 Tagging articles.

541.05 - Tagging articles. A tag shall be attached to all nonferrous metals mentioned in section 541.01 which are received by junk yards or processing plants. Said tag shall be attached to the article in some visible and convenient place, with the number written thereupon corresponding to the entry number on the book required to be kept by section 541.02. This section shall not apply to purchases by a processor when buying directly from junk yards or legitimate business concerns producing such nonferrous metals in the course of its business. For purposes of this section "nonferrous metals" are defined as materials that are not iron-based like their ferrous counterparts. Common nonferrous metals include copper, aluminum, and lead. (Ord. 1174-68; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 541.06 Hours and days of operation.

541.06 - Hours and days of operation. It shall be unlawful, except in cases of necessity or charity, for any person to operate a secondhand store or carry on the business of a secondhand dealer, as provided for in this chapter, or keep such establishment open for business with the public except on the following days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; provided, however, that when any of such days shall immediately precede New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, then any such establishment may be open for business with the public on such preceding day between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.. Whenever any such establishment is not open for business with the public on Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until sundown by reason of religious observance, it may remain open for business with the public on Sunday following during the same hours that it was not open for business with the public on Saturday; provided, however, that it shall be unlawful, except in cases of necessity or charity, for any person to maintain a secondhand store and operate the business of a secondhand dealer as set forth in this chapter, or keep such establishment open for business with the public on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and in the event any one of such days occurs on Sunday, any such establishment shall not remain open for business on the day such holiday is observed, except in cases of necessity or charity. (Sec. 37.7.)

Columbus City Codes § 541.07 Peddlers regulated.

541.07 - Peddlers regulated. If the dealer under the provisions of C.C. 541.01 is a peddler, the dealer need not hold property thirty days. If the purchaser or receiver, by exchange or otherwise, is a peddler, or goes about with a wagon to purchase or obtain, by exchange or otherwise, any of such articles not excepted, and does not have a place of business in a building, the purchaser or receiver need not retain such articles for thirty (30) days before selling them; provided, that on Monday of each week, the purchaser or receiver file with the chief of police or the police department a copy of the record required to be kept in a separate book, of the articles purchased or received during the preceding week, including a description of such articles sold, to whom sold and the place of business. (Sec. 37.6; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 541.08 Use of fictitious name or address; penalty.

541.08 - Use of fictitious name or address; penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a fictitious name or address when said person sells or pawns merchandise to any pawn shop, junk yard, processor or secondhand store in the city. Whoever violates this section shall be deemed guilty of a third degree misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for not more than sixty (60) days, or both. (Ord. 1174-68; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 541.09 Severability clause.

541.09 - Severability clause. If any portion of this chapter, or any section or part of a section is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such declaration of invalidity shall be limited to that portion, section, or part of a section declared invalid. Any such declaration or invalidity shall not affect or impair the remainder of the chapter, and to this end the objectionable provisions are severable. (Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT5BURELICO_CH541SEDEGEFetched: 10/27/2026