Bartow County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Chapter 44, article IX, the Bartow County Fair Business Practices Act, defines a pawnbroker at section 44-602 as any person who works in a pawnshop as manager or owner or both, and a pawnshop as any business that takes goods, wares, merchandise or personal property as security for money lent (a pledge or pawn). Before operating a pawnshop or working in one, section 44-606 requires an annual permit application filed with the sheriff, listing the business address and the full name, address, phone number, date of birth and Social Security number of every owner and employee.

00, on top of the ordinary occupation tax owed under chapter 44; there is no separate fee for an employee permit, though every employee, including the owner acting as an employee, must still hold one. Section 44-605 bars anyone convicted of a felony within the prior five years from holding a permit in any capacity connected to the pawnshop. Section 44-604 requires a sheriff's criminal background check before any employee may work in the business. Once operating, section 44-607 requires every pledge, trade or purchase to be logged in an electronic reporting system (the code names Business Watch International as the initial system) with the customer's identification, a description of the item, the price or amount loaned, and a photograph of both the customer and the item, transmitted to the sheriff's office.

Section 44-608 requires pledged goods to be held at least 30 days before resale, transfer or shipment, giving the original owner a window to redeem them. Section 44-609 bars taking goods in pawn from anyone under 18, and section 44-610 requires reporting suspected stolen or lost items to the sheriff. Section 44-611 requires a fixed physical business location.