Chattanooga, TN Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License
- Valid Tennessee pawnbroker license required
- Business hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Sunday
- Closed; no pawn transactions
- Record retention
- 48-hour police report deadline
Summary
Chattanooga pawnbrokers must hold a valid Tennessee pawnbroker license displayed for police inspection, log every pawn transaction with the pledgor's ID, and keep set hours: no pawn deals on Sunday.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a pawnbroker, to operate a pawnshop or to engage in any activity subject to regulation by this article without first obtaining a valid license from the State of Tennessee. All persons engaged in activities subject to regulation by this article shall have their license clearly displayed and open for inspection by the Chattanooga Police Department.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code Article VIII makes it unlawful to operate a pawnshop without a valid license from the State of Tennessee, displayed for inspection by the Chattanooga Police Department; the shop must post 'Licensed Pawnbroker' over its entrance. Pawnbrokers must record every pawn transaction, description, date, loan amount, and the pledgor's name, race, sex, height, weight, birth date, and address verified by ID, and deliver copies to police within 48 hours. Pawnshops may not open before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. in late November/December), and must stay closed on Sundays except limited holiday retail hours; no pawn transactions on Sunday.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pawnshop without a displayed license, refusing a police records inspection, or completing a pawn transaction on Sunday violates the article and can trigger city enforcement and license inspection by police.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chattanooga issue its own pawnbroker license?
Can a Chattanooga pawnshop do business on Sunday?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chattanooga
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