Bonner County, ID Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Title 8, Chapter 1 of the Bonner County Revised Code regulates pawnbrokers in unincorporated Bonner County, Idaho. Section 8-101 defines a pawnbroker as anyone in the county who loans money on deposits of personal property, deals in personal property on condition of selling it back to the pledgor, or advances money on personal property by taking chattel mortgage security and takes the property into possession. Under § 8-102 the license fee is $200 per year, and the license certificate must hang in a conspicuous place with a copy of all pawnbroker ordinances.

Section 8-103 bars a license in any location where the zoning ordinance does not permit the business. The application under § 8-105 must be signed by at least ten citizens of the county certifying the applicant's good reputation and moral character, comes with a deposit of at least one-half and not more than one year's license charge, and requires a $10,000 bond with a corporate surety or two or more individual sureties. Under § 8-106 the Board of County Commissioners acts on applications at a regular meeting only after receiving the sheriff's recommendation, though the board is not bound by it.

A license goes null and void after ninety days without operating (§ 8-108), and transfers need a majority vote of the commissioners plus a new application and bond. Employees must register with the sheriff's office under § 8-110 and pay $1.25. Section 8-120 sets a 14-day retention period after maturity, a 30-day minimum hold, and a weekly report to the sheriff before 12:00 noon on Monday.