Charleston, WV Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license fee
- $20.00
- Police report deadline
- 24 hours
- Record retention
- 5 years minimum
- Item hold period
- 10 calendar days
- Licensing authority
- City collector
Summary
Charleston requires pawnbrokers to hold an annual $20 city license and keep detailed transaction records reported to police within 24 hours.
(a)All pawnbrokers doing business in the city shall be required to secure from the seller or pledger of any article proof of lawful ownership or a sworn affidavit of ownership of all articles pledged or sold to them.(b)Each such business shall truly and accurately list each article pledged or sold in a permanent record book clearly showing the kind, character or any other special or unique quality or marking or serial or model number attached to or affixed to the article; the date and time of purchase or date and time pledged; the full name, residence address and mailing address of the seller or pledger; and any telephone number. This record book shall be open to inspection by any law enforcement officer in this city during normal business hours.(c)Each such business shall report all the information required on each article pledged or sold in writing to the chief of police within 24 hours of purchase or pledge. The information required by this section shall be preserved for a period of not less than five years.(d)All articles pledged or sold shall not be resold, given away, or loaned out or rented out or altered in any way for a period of ten calendar days after the purchase or pledge of the article.(e)Any person having been found guilty of violating any provision of this section shall be subject to having his license revoked. (Bill No. 7571, 4-15-2013)
Secs. 18-864—18-890. - Reserved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
Anyone lending money on pledged goods or buying items like gold, silver, platinum, or jewelry for resale in Charleston must hold an annual pawnbroker license from the city collector, costing $20.00 per fiscal year. Pawnbrokers must verify the seller's or pledger's ownership, log every item's description and the customer's name and address in a permanent record book open to police inspection, and report each transaction in writing to the chief of police within 24 hours. Records must be kept at least five years, and pledged or purchased items can't be resold, given away, loaned, rented, or altered for ten calendar days after the transaction.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of the pawnbroker article, including the 24-hour police reporting rule or the ten-day hold, can get the business license revoked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must a Charleston pawnbroker hold an item before reselling it?
Does Charleston require pawnbrokers to report transactions to police?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
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