Dubuque, IA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Section 4-6A-1 defines a "pawnbroker" as anyone who makes loans or advancements on a pawn, pledge or deposit of personal property, who takes actual possession of property as loan security with or without a mortgage or bill of sale, who takes possession of property for resale, or who otherwise holds out as a pawnbroker. Section 4-6A-3 requires a license from the City Clerk before engaging in the business, tied to a specific location, renewed annually with all licenses expiring February 1 and a nonrefundable renewal fee set by the city manager.

Only a "person of good moral character" under § 4-6A-1 may apply per § 4-6A-4, meaning no felony conviction within five years absent restored citizenship rights and no conviction for theft, fraud, forgery, controlled-substance offenses or unpaid taxes; the standard reaches officers, directors, partners and any 10 percent owner. Section 4-6A-5 requires the application to disclose the owners' identities and any prior criminal convictions, and § 4-6A-6 routes every application to the police chief for investigation before the city manager acts. Under the chapter's shared prohibited-acts section, § 4-6A-12, a pawnbroker cannot buy from anyone under 18 without a parent's written consent, cannot take goods with an altered serial number, must check one photo ID or two other forms of identification, and must hold jewelry or precious metal five days before melting or remounting it; § 4-6A-13 lets police inspect the premises and hold suspected stolen property up to 30 days. Denial, suspension or revocation under § 4-6A-10 is appealable to the city council within ten days.