Anaheim, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license tax
- $300 (Sec. 3.32.160.020)
- Report deadline
- Noon, day after acquisition
- Standard holding period
- 30 days
- Police-flagged hold
- Up to 90 days
- Enforcing agency
- Anaheim Police Chief
- Records language
- English only, open to inspection
Summary
Anaheim pawnbrokers pay a $300 annual license tax under Sec. 3.32.160.020 and must separately report every item pawned, purchased or taken in trade to the Chief of Police by noon the next day under Sec. 4.64.020. Reported property has to stay on the shelf for 30 days, or up to 90 days if police flag it as possibly stolen.
.020 Pawnbrokers. Every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of pawnbroker shall pay an annual license tax of three hundred dollars. For the purpose of this section the term "pawnbroker" includes every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of loaning money either for himself or for any other person, upon any personal property, personal security, or purchasing personal property and reselling or agreeing to resell such property to the vendor or other assignee at prices previously agreed upon. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to the loaning of money on personal property or personal security by any bank or savings and loan authorized to do so under the laws of the State or of the United States.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Code: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026 | Zoning: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 020 defines a pawnbroker as anyone who loans money on personal property, personal security, pawns or pledges, or who buys personal property with an agreement to resell it to the seller at a price fixed in advance, and charges that business a $300 annual license tax; banks and savings and loans are exempt. 64 layers police-oversight duties on top of the license: Sec. 020 requires every pawnbroker to report all property purchased, taken in trade, taken in pawn or accepted for auction to the Chief of Police no later than noon the day after acquisition.
Sec. 060 requires the pawnbroker to hold that property for 30 days from the date of the report, and lets a police officer extend the hold to as long as 90 days in writing if there's reason to believe the item is stolen; held property can only be released with written police authorization. Sec. 040 has the Chief of Police supply the required report forms free of charge, covering the pawn ticket number, amount loaned, description of the item, and identifying details of the person pawning it.
Sec. 070 requires a complete, open-for-inspection record of every transaction, and Sec. 050 requires all reports and records to be kept in English. Limited exceptions in Sec. 030 exempt property already reported by another dealer, bulk business liquidations, court-ordered sales, and government surplus, provided the pawnbroker documents the exemption and notifies the Chief of Police.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a pawnbroker in Anaheim without paying the Sec. 3.32.160.020 license tax is a licensing violation. Failing to report acquisitions, skipping the 30-day (or police-extended 90-day) hold, or falsifying records under Chapter 4.64 is a misdemeanor under Sec. 4.64.080, and every day a required record is missing counts as a separate violation under the Code's default penalty, Sec. 1.01.370.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anaheim
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