Ankeny, IA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license fee
- $500 per year
- License density limit
- 1 license per 25,000 residents
- Zoning
- Commercial/industrial only
- Buffer distance
- 1,000 ft from homes, schools, churches, parks
- Minimum hold period
- 120 days before resale
- Suspension length
- 14 to 30 calendar days
Summary
No one may run a pawn business in the City of Ankeny, Iowa without a pawnbroker license issued by the City Clerk. The Ankeny Police Department vets every applicant, licenses cost $500 a year, and pawnshops may only locate in commercial or industrial zones at least 1,000 feet from homes, schools, churches or parks.
No person shall engage in the pawn business without first obtaining a pawnbroker license. Applicants for such licenses shall apply, in writing, to the City Clerk. All license applications shall contain the following information: (1) full name, residential address, business address, and date of birth, of the applicant, and whether the applicant is a corporation or partnership, of the officers or partners; (2) the name and address of the owner of the business premises; (3) the business, occupation, or employment of the applicant, including location thereof, for the two years immediately preceding the date of application; and (4) the arrest record of the applicant and whether the applicant has ever been convicted of any crime, except simple misdemeanor traffic violations.
Full Breakdown
Ankeny Code of Ordinances Chapter 141 requires anyone engaging in the pawn business to obtain a license from the City Clerk before opening, per Section 141.02. Applications disclose the applicant's name, address, business location, prior employment for two years, and any arrest or conviction record. The City Clerk forwards the application to the Chief of Police, who reports back within thirty days on the applicant's criminal history, honesty and financial standing (Section 141.03); a felony conviction more than five years old with restored citizenship rights is not automatically disqualifying.
The city issues only one pawnbroker license per 25,000 residents based on the most recent census. Licenses run through December 31 and must be renewed annually at least forty-five days before expiration (Section 141.06); the annual fee is $500 (Section 141.19). Pawnbrokers must display the license conspicuously, keep ink records of every transaction including the seller's ID and driver's license number, hold security-camera footage for at least fifteen days, and retain redemption records for one year, all open to police inspection (Section 141.10). Pawned items must be held at least 120 days before resale, giving the original owner a chance to redeem them (Section 141.14).
Pawnbrokers may not buy or sell property between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., and may not deal with minors without written parental consent (Sections 141.12, 141.14). Section 141.18 confines pawnbroker and delayed-deposit businesses to commercially or industrially zoned property at least 1,000 feet from any residential zoning, church, daycare, school or City park, measured property line to property line.
Violations & Fines
The City Clerk, after consulting the legal department, can bring denial, suspension or revocation proceedings before the City Council for a negative police report, falsified applications, or failure to keep required records. A suspension runs 14 to 30 days, during which the pawnbroker may only process redemptions and must post a sign stating the suspension terms. A revoked license bars that pawnbroker from re-licensing for one full year, and no pawnbroker license may ever be sold or transferred to a new owner without a fresh application.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ankeny
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