Scrap Yards in California
199 cities with scrap yards in California.
Showing the 100 yards closest to the California center. View all yards by city below.
Scrapyards.io lists 505 scrap yards in California spread over 207 cities, and Los Angeles, San Jose, and Anaheim account for the largest share of them. The state's economy of technology hardware, agriculture, aerospace, and entertainment production shapes what comes through the gate, from construction and demolition metal to industrial offcuts and end-of-life vehicles. Copper, aluminum, brass, and ferrous steel are bought almost everywhere; a smaller group also takes lead, catalytic converters, circuit boards, and precious metals, so check the listing before you load up. Price pages on this site show the daily national average per grade. California yards set their own rates around that figure based on volume, prep, and freight, so treat it as a baseline and confirm by phone. Pick a city below to see the yards, hours, and directions, and bring a photo ID: scrap purchases are logged, and state law often requires identification for metal sales.
Scrap metal laws in California
California's junk dealer and recycler rules sit in Business and Professions Code sections 21600–21610. For any sale you'll need to give your name and a valid driver's license or government ID number (a passport or Matricula Consular plus a second address document also works), the license plate of the vehicle that carried the material, and a signed statement that you own the material or naming who you got it from. For nonferrous metal, the yard also photographs or videos you and the material, copies your photo ID, and takes a thumbprint.
Nonferrous payments are delayed: a check is mailed to the address on your ID, or you collect cash or a check on or after the third business day. Frequent sellers (five or more transactions a month) and registered businesses are exempt, as are small non-copper loads under $20 mixed with beverage containers. Detached catalytic converters can be bought only from licensed dismantlers, repair shops, dealers, other licensed businesses, or an individual whose title or registration shows a VIN matching the number permanently marked on the converter. Converter payments must be traceable (no cash), you'll be photographed, and the yard records the VIN and your written statement of how you obtained it.
Yards cannot possess fire hydrants, manhole covers, backflow devices, street lights, traffic signals or other public-agency items without an agency letter authorizing the sale. Records are kept two years and reported to local police or the sheriff. Making a false statement on any required record is a misdemeanor. Consult a lawyer for advice about your specific situation.
Sources: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 21605, 21606, 21608, 21608.5, 21609.1, 21610; Cal. Veh. Code § 10852.5 — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?law… ; leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?…
Informational summary of state statute, not legal advice. Laws change; check the cited sources or a lawyer before relying on this.