Erie County, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Erie County Sheriff
- License term
- 1 year from issuance
- License fee
- Matches Buffalo Code § 254-21
- Minimum seller age
- 18 years old
- Holding period
- 14 days (30 if police request)
- First-offense fine
- Up to $200
- Revocation trigger
- 10 violations in 12 months
Summary
Every pawnbroker operating in Erie County must hold a dealer's license issued by the Erie County Sheriff under Local Law No. 1 of 2018. The law bars pawnbrokers from buying goods from anyone under 18, sets a mandatory 14-day (or 30-day, on police request) holding period before resale, and ties license fees to the City of Buffalo's schedule.
SECTION 3. Definitions 11) "Pawnbroker" - Any person or business establishment who holds goods as collateral on short-term, high-interest loans or a person who qualifies as a "collateral loan broker" pursuant to § 52 of the New York General Business Law. SECTION 5. Licensing A. Every pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, jewelry and coin exchange dealer, or precious metal exchange operating within Erie County is required to be licensed according to this local law. B. The Erie County Sheriff shall be the licensing authority authorized to issue dealer licenses under this law. C. Licenses shall be valid for one year from date of issuance. D. The fee structure for the purposes of this law shall be equal to those of the City of Buffalo, as directed in §254-21 of the Buffalo Code.
Full Breakdown
Local Law No. A-B). 11). C-D). E). Section 4 prohibits a pawnbroker from purchasing items from anyone known or reasonably believed to be under 18, and requires items be held at least 14 calendar days after acquisition before sale, alteration, or removal from the premises, extended to 30 days (renewable in two more 30-day blocks) if a law enforcement agency requests it in writing. No dealer may employ anyone convicted of a business-related felony within the past three years or whose dealer's license was revoked or denied in the past year.
The Sheriff may deny or revoke a license for false statements on the application or for refusing to allow a records or premises inspection; a denied or revoked applicant has 10 business days to request reconsideration, and the Sheriff must respond within 10 business days.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of the chapter is punishable as an offense: a fine up to $200 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $3,000 for each offense after that, with each transaction treated as a separate violation regardless of how many rule breaks occur within it (Section 12.A). Ten violations within any consecutive 12-month period causes revocation of the dealer's license (Section 12.D). All penalties are charged to the license holder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who licenses pawnbrokers in Erie County?
How long must a pawnbroker hold an item before reselling it?
What happens if a pawnbroker buys from someone underage?
Can Erie County revoke a pawnbroker's license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Erie County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Erie County to another location·View the New York business licensing & operations overview
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