Auburn, AL Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Auburn licenses pawnbrokers, second-hand dealers and dealers in precious metals under Category 17 of Sec. 12-17(b), which sets a flat $500 annual business license fee, a rate far above the standard $100 minimum applied to most categories. Unlike most business categories, Category 17 licenses cannot issue on the strength of the fee alone: the application or renewal must first be reviewed and approved by both the director of the city's public safety department and the director of the city planning department. Once licensed, Article IX of Chapter 12 layers on operational rules specific to the trade.

Sec. 12-203 requires every licensee, pawnbroker or second-hand dealer to register with the chief of police within 5 days of starting business, giving a permanent and temporary address and every location where the business operates or stores property. Sec. 12-204 requires a purchase book recording the seller's name, the date and hour of purchase, the seller's residence, identifying information including sex, race, date of birth, driver's license and social security number, and a detailed description of each item. Sec. 12-205 requires a daily transcript of that book's entries submitted to the chief of police before the close of each business day through the department's designated reporting system.

Sec. 12-206 requires tagging each purchased item with an identifying number matching the book entry, Sec. 12-207 requires holding purchased property unaltered for 96 hours after reporting, and Sec. 12-208 opens the licensee's books and records to inspection by police at any time.