An Auction House is place of business where property is received from other persons or businesses, when such property is to be resold either publicly or privately for cash, other property or other consideration to a third party by auction.

Auction is a public sale where goods or property are sold to the highest bidder.

A few examples of items sold at auction:

• paintings/artwork
• automobiles/motorcycles
• historical or sports memorabilia
• coins, jewelry, metals
• collectible toys
• antique furnishings
• military items
• industrial equipment
• farm equipment
• and more.

Code

Tempe City Code §16A-1 to §16A-39

Step One: Have the following documents ready or in process before applying

• A Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT or sales tax) License is required annually for the business

Retail activity includes the sale of any tangible personal property, including items such as furniture, appliances, clothing, jewelry, equipment, etc.

Apply, File & Pay Transaction Privilege Tax at AZTaxes.gov

• A LeadsOnline account must be established and account number must be provided.  Tempe Police will verify at time of background check that account is set up. Click logo below to set up:

• 

Step Two: A Tempe Auction House License is required annually for the business and must include an application for the following to be complete:  

• the auction house business 

• each individual owner 

If you need a Tempe Regulatory License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.

BUSINESS APPLICATION

OWNER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Step Three: A Tempe Use Permit is required from the Planning Division.

 APPLY FOR A USE PERMIT

Pursuant to Section 3-302, Permitted Uses in Office/Industrial Districts, and Section 3-202, Permitted Uses in Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts, of the City of Tempe Zoning and Development Code (ZDC), a Use Permit is required to operate a “pawnshop” in the GID, General Industrial District. The Use Permit application process is identified in Section 6-308, Use Permits, of the ZDC.

Step Four: Fingerprints are required for all applicants so a background investigation can be completed by Tempe Police Dept.  

Click Here to download City of Tempe Fingerprint Packet

The City of Tempe Code requires that all applicants must submit fingerprints to Tempe Police.

Fingerprints may be obtained at any fingerprinting service company in the United States. Tempe Police Department offers fingerprint services to business license applicants free of charge. To check availability, please call Tempe PD Licensing Unit 480-350-5300. Please ensure you are following the proper procedure to submit the fingerprints. Refer to the City of Tempe Fingerprint Packet for further information.

Required items are as follows:

USDOJ FBI Fingerprint Card, FD258, blue and white in color.

$22 fingerprint fee (in the form of a cashier’s check or money order, made out to Arizona Dept of Public Safety) must be submitted with each person’s fingerprint card.

Licensing Fingerprint Form (this is on the first page of the fingerprint packet, and needs to be filled out by the fingerprint technician).

Enclose all items into a sealed envelope that can be mailed or dropped off to Tempe Police Department at the below address.

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? Please call 480-350-5300

 Fees

$50 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

Total: $50 total for new license

(*annual license fee is $35 after June 30)

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Application Processing Time

30 days (from time all documents received)

New license application is forwarded to:

Tempe Police Department

 Tempe Fire Department

 Building Safety

 Planning

A Tempe Auction House License is required annually.

If you need a Tempe Regulatory License, you will need to renew before

January 1 each year.

RENEW A LICENSE 

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Fees

$50 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

Total: $50 total for license renewal

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$0 

Application Processing Time

30 days

Note: All Owners must submit fingerprints to Tempe Police Dept

$22 fingerprint fee per person

(paid by cashier’s check or money order to Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

New License Fees

$50 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

Total: $50 total for new license

(*annual license fee is $35 July 1 and after)

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Renewal License Fees

$50 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

Total: $50 total for license renewal

(*annual license fee is $35 July 1 and after)

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$0

Application Processing Time for New Applications

30 days (from time all documents received)

New Applications, for new license or renewal, require fingerprints and background checks for all owners 

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-350-5300

Requirement to Renew Annually

Tempe Auction House Dealer Licenses expire annually by December 31. It is unlawful to operate an Auction House business in Tempe with an expired license.  Renewal applications must be filed before a license expires.

Requirement to Pay Taxes

Double check your Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT or sales tax) to stay on the tax payment schedule established with the Arizona Department of Revenue. You must submit your required filings on-time on the 20th of each month for the previous month's revenues.  You must also renew your Transaction Privilege Tax every year before January 1 . You can access your account online at AZTaxes.gov link here:

Requirement to Keep Contact Information Up to Date

If an owner's information changes, the licensee must contact Tempe Tax & License to make the updates.  If there is a new owner being added to the license, then a new application for that person is required as well as the fingerprint and background check process.  There is no charge for the application.  There will be a fee for submitting new fingerprinting to Tempe Police for the background check.  

"Our mission is to provide quality service to all Tempe taxpayers, and administer the tax code in a fair and equitable manner."