Albuquerque, NM Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Albuquerque's Pawnbroker, Precious Material Dealer, Secondhand Retailer, and Automated Kiosk Ordinance (Ord. 2020-042) requires a permit for each place of business before a person may act, advertise, transact, or solicit business in any of those categories, § 13-6-4(A). A business engaged in two or more covered activities, or running multiple automated kiosks, may consolidate them under one permit if each activity or kiosk location is specifically identified. The permit must be displayed conspicuously at the store premises and renewed by July 1 each year, § 13-6-4(B).

The annual fee is $250, adjusted yearly to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, and a business covering multiple regulated activities pays only one fee, § 13-6-4(C). Before issuing a permit, the city runs a criminal background check on the applicant and every controlling person; anyone convicted of a felony is barred from a pawnbroker's permit under NMSA 1978 § 56-12-4, per § 13-6-7(C). Pawnbrokers must post a $5,000 bond with the city and give 30 days' written notice before cancelling it, § 13-6-6.

A change of ownership requires a new permit application unless at least 90% of the equity interest carries through the sale, § 13-6-4(E). Operating without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable under the general penalty section, § 1-1-99, § 13-6-4(D). Separately, the Independent Office of Hearings can fine a permitted business up to $500 for a first violation and up to $1,000 for repeat violations, order a cease-and-desist, or revoke the permit outright for severe, irredeemable violations, with revocation delayed 120 days to allow winding down existing pawns, § 13-6-10(B)(3).

Anyone denied a permit or renewal is entitled to a hearing under § 13-6-4(F) and § 13-6-10(C). Charitable thrift stores, charitable organizations, consignment stores, rare-coin dealers, and exclusive estate-sale resellers are exempt from the entire article, § 13-6-14.