Akron, OH Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

490(A) defines a pawnbroker as a person engaged in lending money on deposit or pledges of personal property, other than securities or printed evidence of indebtedness, at a total charge, interest rate, or discount exceeding eight percent per year. Subsection B makes it unlawful to engage in the business of a pawnbroker, or to purchase, sell, or receive designated secondhand articles, without a license issued under Article 29. 491 requires a written application to the License Clerk stating the business name, every person owning or having an interest in the business, every employee, the business location, and the types of articles handled, made personally by the operator and supported by references from at least two Akron residents attesting to the applicant's character.

The License Clerk cannot issue a license to any applicant, owner, or employee convicted of a felony or a crime involving fraud, theft, or receiving stolen property within the preceding five years, and must hold the application for thirty days to complete a background check, unless the applicant is already licensed under the article. 493 sets the fee at $50 per business location, non-refundable, with every license expiring automatically on December 31. 495. 02.