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Scrap Metal Recycling Laws By State

Scrap metal recycling laws vary by state — and failing to comply can cost your business in fines, legal trouble, or even license suspension.

How BuyScrapSoftware Helps

Compliance, Wherever You Operate

Built-In Compliance Tools

Capture IDs, thumbprints, signatures, and photos right at the point of purchase.

State-Specific Customization

Our system adapts to the laws in your state — no guesswork required.

Automated Reporting

Generate and submit reports (like LeadsOnline) directly from your dashboard.

Payment Controls

Apply holds or restrict payout types based on your state's rules.

Select Your State

What We Cover For Each State

Required ID verification, hold periods, reporting rules, and how our software supports them. Laws change rapidly — this list may not cover everything your state requires.

  • Valid photo ID required from seller, plus a signed seller affidavit
  • Records must be kept for two years
  • Cash payments restricted for copper purchases over $100 and other metals over $1,000
  • Suspected stolen material can be held for 15 days at law enforcement's request
ID capture, digital ownership statements, cash-limit logic, delayed payment scheduling, and automatic hold triggers help ensure complete documentation.
  • Under HB 305, dealers must log detailed records for any transaction worth $100 or more — date, time, location, value, seller name/address/date of birth, vehicle plate (if applicable), and material description/weight
  • Sellers must sign a written statement affirming legal ownership
  • Records must be retained for at least four years and made available for law enforcement inspection on request
  • HB 305 repealed the requirement for dealers to hold a state Department of Revenue license
Captures all required intake details digitally, including ownership affidavits, stores data for the mandated retention period, and provides inspection-ready audit logs — without requiring licensing management.
  • Dealers must report scrap metal transactions to the state within 24 hours
  • Requires seller ID, fingerprint, and photos of the material at intake
  • Payment cannot be issued immediately — typically via mailed check or money order
Logs all compliance data, prompts fingerprint and photo capture, and automates next-day electronic reporting via integration with DPS/LeadsOnline.
  • Valid photo ID, thumbprint, and snapshot of material and vehicle required
  • Seven-day tag-and-hold can be imposed by law enforcement
  • One year minimum retention of records
Built-in photo/video capture, record logs, fingerprint storage, and tag-and-hold alert management.
  • Requires copy of driver's license, thumbprint, vehicle info, and photo of seller
  • Two-year retention of detailed records
  • Payment by non-transferable check, mailed or picked up after three days (unless frequent customer)
  • Enforces e-waste rules and the CRV beverage container program
  • AB 476 (2025) adds documentation requirements — time, amount paid, handling employee, and seller's date of birth/address; prohibits purchases from minors; fines for illegal possession of copper or street-light metals increase up to $10,000
ID capture, signature/affidavit prompts, e-waste flagging, CRV fee tracking, check-payment scheduling, expanded intake forms, and audit-ready logs.
  • Recordkeeping required for two years
  • Five-day tag-and-hold may be required
  • Vehicle scrappers must report to NMVTIS
Logs seller data and vehicle details, supports NMVTIS integration, schedules hold times as needed.
  • Two-year record retention including vehicle photos, material description, weight, and seller information
  • Five-day hold for telecom wire unless seller is registered or exempt
Supports customized holds, seller/photo data capture, and wire-specific restrictions.
  • Records must include seller photo/vehicle plate and be maintained
  • Immediate reporting to law enforcement mandated
  • Tag-and-hold of seven days unless business seller
Captures seller image, links to vehicle plate recording, triggers immediate reporting, and tracks hold periods.
  • Requires ID copy, fingerprint, seller description, and sworn statement
  • Beer keg purchase has additional proof requirements
Digital affidavit prompts, thumbprint scanning, ID capture, and specialty product verification (e.g. kegs).
  • Dealers must register annually with the sheriff
  • Recording of vehicle details, seller image, and time-stamped photo of materials is required
  • Purchases prohibited at night (7 p.m.–7 a.m.)
Supports sheriff registration tracking, avoids restricted time transactions, and provides image and timestamp logs.
  • Purchasing requires seller affidavit of ownership
  • Copper purchases need additional contractor license documentation
  • Check payment mailed to seller address
Enforces affidavit collection, handles contractor-license upload, and automates check-payment workflows.
  • Records required for transactions exceeding $10, including ID or vehicle plate number
  • Ten-day hold may be required by law enforcement
Captures ID or vehicle plate, tracks holdings, and stores records securely per state rules.
  • Keep transaction records for three years when purchases exceed $100, and one year for beer kegs
  • Purchases of air conditioners, copper, or coils over $100 must be paid by nontransferable check
  • Must collect seller's driver's license copy and a photograph at time of purchase
Automated photo capture, ID scanning, noncash payment workflows, and long-term record retention.
  • Keep all records for two years, including a copy of driver's license, seller photo, and material photo
  • Five-business-day tag-and-hold may be requested by law enforcement
Logs seller details, materials, photos, and tracks holds.
  • Retain records for at least one year, including driver's license copy
  • Payments must be made by check or electronic transfer (unless total sale is under $50, or $75 for catalytic converters, or seller is a registered commercial vendor)
ID capture, restricted cash-payment logic, and documentation workflows.
  • Retain records for two years including seller's driver's license copy and fingerprint
  • Follow 30-day tag-and-hold policy when notified by law enforcement (excluding weekends/holidays)
  • Restrictions on accepting melted metals without signed supplier affidavit
Manages fingerprint capture, holds calendar, signed waivers, and audit logs.
  • Records must be kept for two years, including driver's license copy and video surveillance at intake
  • Three-day hold standard, extendable up to 30 days by authorities
  • Prohibited cash for restricted materials (utilities, kegs, HVAC, catalytic converters)
Enforces video capture, automated holds, restricted-item logic, and exclusion checks.
  • Maintain records for three years, though photos and thumbprints retained for one year
  • Cash banned on copper/AC coil purchases; check or payment card issued five business days later
  • Submit electronic report daily to law enforcement and local authorities
ID/photo/thumbprint collection, delayed check workflows, and a built-in reporting interface.
  • Records retention for one year
  • Seven-day tag-and-hold policy when triggered, extendable by authorities
  • Submit electronic report daily to law enforcement and local authorities
Enforces noncash payments, records retention, and alerts on hold requests.
  • Licensed dealers must submit electronic transaction reports by 10 a.m. next business day
  • Records retained for one year; law enforcement may impose a 15-day tag-and-hold
  • Purchase of catalytic converters restricted to licensed vendors only
License tracking, next-day reporting module, and converter purchase screening.
  • Records retained for two years and transmitted electronically within 48 hours
  • Mandatory 10-day hold when instructed by law enforcement
Automated reporting, digital record retention, and hold scheduling logic.
  • One-year retention for all records, including driver's license copy, fingerprint, vehicle plate, and signed seller affidavit
  • Seven-day hold applies to most nonferrous materials under certain conditions
Seller affidavit capture, fingerprint and license data collection, and automated hold logic.
  • Three-year record-keeping requirement; images/video retained for 60 days
  • Must install video surveillance at intake
  • Only noncash payments allowed (check or electronic transfer)
  • 30-day hold when law enforcement intervenes (excludes aluminum beverage cans)
  • As of January 1, 2025, a state-issued license (about $250/year) is required to buy or sell copper wire
Surveillance capture, photo retention logic, payment method enforcement, hold timers, and a license management module.
  • Two-year record retention including seller photo, metal photo, ID, and vehicle description
  • Cash is prohibited; payments via check or EFT delayed for at least three days
Digital photo workflows, delayed payment scheduling, and cash restriction logic.
  • Records kept for two years and must include driver's license copy, license plate, material description/weight
  • Purchases over $500 cannot be made in cash
  • 10-day hold minimum enforced
ID and vehicle logging, threshold payment enforcement, and hold timer features.
  • Records retained for two years, with photo ID unless paid by check
  • Ten-day tag-and-hold applies when notified
Photo capture modules, check-based exemptions, and hold scheduling.
  • Keep records for one year, including fingerprint for copper or catalytic converter sales
  • Cash prohibited for transactions over $25
Fingerprint capture, payment restrictions, and audit logs.
  • Records must include seller's photo, driver's license copy, vehicle description/plate, fingerprint, and video/photo of sale
  • Seven-day hold when required by law enforcement
Rich media capture, fingerprint logging, vehicle metadata, and hold alert system.
  • Transaction records must include a material description and seller info
  • Hold policy of a minimum of seven days
  • Some local licensing may apply
Material and seller logs plus hold counters, with local jurisdiction flagging.
  • Records for purchases exceeding $50 or 100 pounds must be kept for five years and include driver's license copy and material description
  • Five-day tag-and-hold when notified
Long-term record retention, ID capture, and hold management.
  • Retailers must file transaction data electronically within 48 hours
  • Retain records for one year, include ID copy and seller/material photos
  • Five-day hold on restricted items, extendable by law
Integrated 48-hour reporting system, media capture, and hold logic.
  • Scrap processors must be licensed locally; records kept for two years, and ID copy collected
  • Tag-and-hold applies to certain items like copper wire, cast metals, and kegs
License status tracking, record logging, and specialized hold flagging.
  • Records must include driver's license copy, photos/video of seller/material, and must be paid by nontransferable check or transfer (no cash for copper or over $100)
  • 15-day tag-and-hold, extendable up to 30 days
Media capture, payment rule enforcement, and hold scheduler.
  • No major statewide anti-metal theft law as of the latest guides
Template workflows for ID capture and record logging can still help yards adopt best practices even without a state requirement.
  • Records retained for one year; photos retained for 60 days
  • Must register annually with the Department of Public Safety and submit daily electronic transaction reports
  • Only one catalytic converter purchase per seller per day (exceptions apply)
Registration alerts, reporting automation, and conversion-limit screening.
  • Dealers must hold a scrap metal license and sales tax permit
  • Records include driver's license and vehicle description, with a 10-day hold for items over 35 pounds
  • Cash prohibited over $25; restricted materials require check
Registration alerts, reporting automation, and conversion-limit screening.
  • One-year record retention; video surveillance must be kept 30 days
  • Payments by check mailed at least 3 days later
  • Ten-day hold when required
Surveillance integration, delayed check issuance, and hold tracking.
  • Dealers must register with state police every two years
  • Records for purchases over $100 include driver's license and vehicle plate
  • 48-hour hold standard, plus an additional day if law enforcement requests; five-day hold for cable/wire
Registration alerts, detailed vehicle logging, and hold scheduling by material type.
  • Licensed annually by the state; keep transaction records with ID copy and material details for two years
  • Three-day hold applies automatically for regulated items
License tracking, record logs, and automatic hold triggers.
  • Records retained for one year including driver's license copy and seller photo
  • 15-day hold on request
  • Cash is allowed only below $25 for copper/converters; otherwise payment by check
Photo/ID capture, cash threshold control, and hold logic.
  • Records and payment tracking for three years, including ID, fingerprint, vehicle plate, and seller photo if ID is unavailable
  • Payment restrictions for copper and converters; five-day hold on voucher-delayed payments
Fingerprint capture, voucher workflows, photo fallback protocols, and hold automation.
  • Records for two years; media retention: photos 181 days, videos 91 days
  • Must file electronic transaction report within two business days
  • 72-hour hold standard; up to 60-day hold if law enforcement suspects theft
Photo/video logging, delayed hold timers, two-day reporting workflow, and threshold alerts.
  • Records required for one year, including seller's driver's license and vehicle plate number or photo/video
  • Recordkeeping may be waived if payment is made by check
  • 60-day hold for suspected stolen materials, and 15-day hold for precious metals
Captures seller ID or fingerprints and vehicle info, manages hold periods automatically, and flags precious metals.
  • Maintain transaction records for five years, including the seller's vehicle plate number, transaction timestamp, and material description
  • 15-day hold required if ownership cannot be documented
Ensures seller data logging and automated hold alerts when proof of ownership is missing.
  • Retain transaction records for five years, including material description and vehicle plate info; media only required for the first 30 days
  • 5-day hold applies when proprietary materials or restricted items are sold without ownership proof
Logs seller and vehicle metadata, retains media per state rules, and automatically triggers hold logic.
  • Dealers must be licensed annually and register scales and operations
  • Records kept for three years, including seller ID, vehicle info, weight and description
  • Fingerprint required if five or more catalytic converters are sold
  • Transactions must be reported within 72 hours
Tracks licensing status, logs ID and vehicle data, processes fingerprint captures on threshold items, and automates timely reporting.
  • Keep records for two years, including seller's ID, vehicle info, and item description
  • 72-hour hold applies to restricted property pending authority request
Captures compliance data, supports hold scheduling, and flags restricted materials.
  • No formal statewide metals-theft law as of the latest compliance guides
  • Many yards still follow best-practice protocols: ID capture, record logging, holds on catalysts/copper, and cash thresholds
Delivers a turnkey compliance framework adaptable to county-level requirements or future statewide enactments.