Blaine, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide pawnbroker license cap
- 1 license maximum
- Required bond
- $5,000 surety bond
- License expiration
- December 31 annually
- Redemption period
- At least 90 days
- Pawnshop charge cap
- 3% per month plus fees
- Storage fee cap
- $20 maximum
- No-license buffer
- 300 ft from school/church
Summary
In the City of Blaine, no person, partnership, company, or corporation may run a pawn shop without a license from the city under City Code § 22-176, and the city caps the total number of pawnbroker licenses citywide at one, per § 22-177(g). A pawnbroker must also hold a secondhand goods dealer license before buying and reselling used merchandise. The Blaine Police Department investigates every application and transaction record.
(a)No person, partnership, company, or corporation shall engage in or carry on the business of pawnbroker, without a license issued by the city for each and every separate office or place of business operated by such licensee in the city. ... (e)A pawnbroker may not operate or engage in the business of secondhand goods dealer without having obtained a secondhand goods dealer license in addition to a pawnbroker's license. ... (g)The maximum number of pawnbroker licenses within the city shall be one.
Full Breakdown
Every pawnbroker license application goes to the city clerk under oath, per § 22-177, backed by a $5,000.00 bond and a comprehensive background check whose cost above the application fee falls on the applicant; the police chief and department heads must recommend issuance or denial within 60 days. Section 22-178 bars a license to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or resident alien, anyone under 18, anyone whose pawnbroker or secondhand dealer license was revoked or denied within the past five years, anyone convicted of an occupation-related crime under M.S.A. § 364.03 without rehabilitation, or anyone the council finds lacks good moral character.
Section 22-179 bars a licensed premises within 300 feet of a school or church, within ten driving miles of a gambling casino, or with delinquent city or state taxes. Every license expires December 31 under § 22-176(b) and cannot transfer to a new location or owner without a fresh application. Once licensed, § 22-140 requires the pawnbroker to record every pledgor's name, address, birthdate, physical description, and photo ID, keep the record for three years, and report daily transactions to police by noon the next day.
Section 22-143 gives a pledgor at least 90 days to redeem an item before sale, and § 22-144(f) caps the pawnshop charge at three percent per month of the amount advanced plus a storage fee no higher than $20.00.
Violations & Fines
Section 22-180 lets the city deny, suspend, not renew, or revoke a pawnbroker license for violating this article, conflicting with the Code's health or building provisions, or committing fraud or misrepresentation in an application or in business dealings, with the police chief referring violations to the city clerk. Section 22-138 makes any violation of the pawnbroker article a misdemeanor, carrying the Code's general penalty of up to $1,000.00, 90 days imprisonment, or both, under § 1-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pawn shops can operate in Blaine?
Do I need a separate license to resell secondhand goods?
How long do I have to redeem a pawned item in Blaine?
How much can a Blaine pawnbroker charge in interest?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Blaine
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