Salvage Permit Application & Frequently Asked Questions

Salvage Collector Permit Application(PDF, 650KB)

• There is a $5 fee with each permit application. 
• Individual applicants may be denied a permit if under the age of 19 or if convicted of a theft crime in the last five years. 

No. Applicants must bring their completed application to the Lincoln Police Department Records Unit, 575 South 10th Street. A fingerprint and review of the applicant's criminal history is required.  

Salvage collector permits expire each year on July 31st.

Renewals require a criminal history review and fingerprint; therefore, they cannot be mailed. Renewals must be done in person. 

You may obtain a duplicate from the Lincoln Police Department Records Unit. There is no charge for a duplicate permit.

An application may be denied if the applicant has been convicted of any theft offense within the last five years. An application may also be denied for misrepresentations or false statements on the application.  

Theft offenses include: 

• Burglary 
• Theft by unlawful taking
• Theft by shoplifting
• Theft by deception
• Theft by extortion
• Theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake
• Theft of services
• Theft by receiving stolen property
• Unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle
• Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle 
• Receiving stolen goods
• Taking possession of property without the consent of owner
• Possession of burglar's tools
• Larceny

No, a salvage collector's permit is required to possess, accept, process, store, hold, keep, receive, reuse collect, deal in, buy or sell high value and regulated metals property.

Regulated metals property is defined as a catalytic converter in any form or condition that has been disassembled, separated, detached or uninstalled from a motor vehicle. 

High value salvage material is defined as any copper, bronze, brass and aluminum, whether scrap metal or recyclable metal, with the exception of aluminum cans. 

Regulated metals property is defined as a catalytic converter in any form or condition that has been disassembled, separated, detached or uninstalled from a motor vehicle. 

High value salvage material is defined as any copper, bronze, brass and aluminum, whether scrap metal or recyclable metal, with the exception of aluminum cans. 

Each salvage operation, enclosed disassembly operation, recycling processing center and secondary metals recycler must keep electronic record of every high value salvage material and regulated metals property transaction. Municipal code 5.41.210

• The date and hour of the day when each article was received;
• The name and signature of the individual who handled the transaction;
• The digital signature of the seller; 
• The amount paid per item to the seller;
• Payment over $25 for regulated metals property shall be by check. If the purchase is more than $100, the check shall be sent by U.S. mail, postage prepaid. Purchases made from the same person in a four-hour period is considered a single transaction;
• The complete description of weight and grade of each material received;
• The name, birthday, current address and current phone number of the seller, verified by any current and valid operator's license or state or U.S issued identification card;
• A digital color image of the seller's current motor vehicle operator's license, state identification card or federal government-issued ID card; 
• A date and time stamped color digital image, or video recording, clearly showing the seller's face and regulated metals property; 
• A digital color image of the work order, receipt or invoice showing both the name of the person from whom the regulated property was obtained or a statement that the seller is the owner, and the make, model and VIN number of the vehicle from which the regulated metals property was removed; 
• The seller's Salvage Collector Permit number;
• Legible digital scan of the seller's right index fingerprint. 

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Chapter 5.41 of Lincoln Municipal Code outlines licenses and regulations for salvaging, recycling and composting operations.

• Chapter 5.41