Commerce City, CO Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Chapter 9, Article III, Division 2 of the Revised Municipal Code governs pawnbrokers. Section 9-3202 makes it unlawful to engage in the business of a pawnbroker in the city without first obtaining a pawnbroker license under that division. Section 9-3203 layers state law on top of the city's own rules, requiring every licensed pawnbroker to comply with all Colorado requirements and regulations for pawnbrokers under C.R.S. tit. 12, art. 56, and section 9-3200 states the city's intent to be at least as restrictive as state law but no more restrictive with respect to fixed time and fixed price.

Section 9-3204 lets the city run a background investigation on the applicant, or, for a business entity, on each partner, officer, director, member or shareholder holding a ten-percent or greater interest, and charges a nonrefundable investigation and fingerprint fee capped at what the Colorado Bureau of Investigation charges. Section 9-3205 lists denial, suspension or revocation grounds specific to pawnbrokers: a failure to demonstrate or maintain good moral character, evaluated against license history, felony or misdemeanor convictions within the past ten years, and pending fraud or misrepresentation judgments, plus a separate failure to demonstrate or maintain financial responsibility.

The general licensing procedure in Article I fills in the process: under section 9-1009, the city can deny an application in writing without a hearing, and the administrative hearing officer can suspend or revoke a license after a hearing under chapter 3, article II, with the licensee served notice of the hearing and the alleged grounds at least three days beforehand and a right of appeal to that same administrative hearing process.