Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 54 (2026)

Junk dealers

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 54. Cities and towns by ordinance or by-law may provide for the licensing, by the police commissioner in Boston, by the license commission in Lowell, by the aldermen in other cities and by the selectmen in towns, of suitable persons to be collectors of, dealers in or keepers of shops for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metals or second hand articles, may make rules and regulations relative to their business, and may provide for the supervision thereof. Said licensing board or officer may, except as otherwise provided in such ordinance or by-law, make additional rules, regulations and restrictions which shall be expressed in all licenses. Said licenses may be revoked at pleasure, and shall be subject to sections two hundred and two to two hundred and five, inclusive, except that societies, associations or corporations organized solely for religious or charitable purposes and their agents shall not be required to pay a fee for such licenses.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 1926–1997 · leading case: LaPointe v. License Bd. of Worcester, 451 N.E.2d 112 (Mass. 1983).

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LaPointe v. License Bd. of Worcester, 451 N.E.2d 112 (Mass. 1983). · cites it 8× “G. L. c. 140, § 54. He also sought a declaration of rights declaring G.”

Goldie's Salvage, Inc. v. Bd. of Selectmen of Walpole, 583 N.E.2d 878 (Mass. App. Ct. 1992). · cites it 3× “The selectmen of Walpole, acting as the licensing authority of the town, voted on May 30, 1989, to deny the application for renewal of four licenses previously held by the plaintiff (Goldie’s): a junk dealer’s license and a junk collector’s license, both issued under G. L. c.…”

Commonwealth v. Henry W. Berry Co., 152 N.E. 737 (Mass. 1926). “The defendant was charged with the violation of G. L. c. 140, §§54 and 55. Section 54 directs that cities and towns, by ordinance or by law, may provide for licensing of proper persons to be dealers in second hand articles; § 55 provides a penalty for selling such articles…”

Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary v. Bullen, 7 Mass. L. Rptr. 101 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1997). “140, §54, the licensing authority to deal in junk, old materials, and second hand articles, the court held that a “statute which merely regulates business interests need not specify with great particularity the relevant considerations with respect to whether to revoke a…”

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