Apple Valley, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Inspection duty
- Property held open for Town inspection, § 5.02.340
- Reporting
- Daily purchase reports to Police Dept., § 5.02.360
- State cross-reference
- Financial Code § 21208
- Small-transaction exemption
- $5.00 or less need not be reported
- Record retention
- 3 years, English language
- Base license fee
- $50-$200/yr by employee count
Summary
Apple Valley licenses pawnbrokers as a regular business under Chapter 5.02 and layers on inspection and daily-reporting duties in §§ 5.02.340 and 5.02.360. Pawnbrokers must keep acquired property open for Town inspection and file transaction reports with the Police Department consistent with state Financial Code § 21208.
Every junk dealer, pawnbroker, secondhand dealer and salvage collector shall hold and keep exposed any property acquired by them in the course of their business for inspection on their business premises during business hours. ... Junk dealers, pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers licensed under this Chapter shall report in writing to the Police Department, in a manner as approved by the Police Department, all personal property requiring reporting by this Chapter. ... Pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers shall make their reports in compliance with the provisions of Business and Professions Code § 21628 and Financial Code § 21208, of the State of California.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
340, every junk dealer, pawnbroker, secondhand dealer and salvage collector must hold and keep exposed any property acquired in the course of business for inspection on the business premises during business hours, a duty adopted by Ordinance No. 408 in 2010. 360(a) requires pawnbrokers to report every purchase to the Police Department in writing, with a purchase form for each transaction listing the dealer's name and address, the date of purchase, the seller's name, description, residence address and driver's license or vehicle information, a description of the material, and its weight, amount paid, and time of payment.
010(c). 00 or less from the daily report, except automobiles and automobile bodies. 360(d) ties pawnbrokers directly to state law, requiring reports in compliance with Business and Professions Code § 21628 and Financial Code § 21208. Records must be kept in English for three years and made available to any law enforcement officer on demand.
Violations & Fines
Failing to complete, file, or retain the daily reports and purchase forms required by § 5.02.360 is expressly declared a violation of the Chapter and unlawful, subject to the general Chapter 5.02 penalty in § 5.02.240: an infraction punishable under §§ 1.01.200 through 1.01.230, including administrative fines running from $100 for a first offense up to $500 for repeat violations of the same section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple Valley require a special pawnbroker license?
What must a pawnbroker report on each transaction?
Do small pawn transactions need to be reported?
How long must a pawnbroker keep transaction records?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Apple Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Apple Valley to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle pawnbrokers.