Henrico County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Countywide cap
- 10 licensed pawnshops
- Spacing requirement
- 1 mile between shops
- License fee
- $200 initial and annual renewal
- License issued by
- Chief of police
- Prerequisite
- Circuit court order + bond
- Unlicensed operation penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, per day
Summary
Henrico caps pawnshops at ten countywide, spaced at least a mile apart, and requires a $200 license from the chief of police plus a circuit court order before anyone can operate. County Code §§ 15-144 through 15-147 set the license process, fees and penalties.
the term "pawnbroker" means any natural person who lends or advances money or other things for profit on the pledge and possession of personal property or other valuable things, other than securities or written or printed evidences of indebtedness or title, or who deals in the purchasing of personal property or other valuable things on condition of selling the property or other things back to the seller at a stipulated price. ... No natural person may engage in the business of a pawnbroker without first obtaining a license from the chief of police. ... Not more than ten places in the county may be licensed where the business of a pawnbroker may be conducted, none of which may be located closer than one mile to any other.
Full Breakdown
Section 15-144 defines a pawnbroker as anyone who lends money on the pledge of personal property, or buys property on condition of selling it back to the seller at a set price. 1-4001 authorizing the county to issue the license, post a bond, and submit fingerprints, photograph, employer information, a sworn statement on criminal history, the proposed business address, a statement on whether firearms will be handled, and planning-department certification that the location is a permitted use. The application fee is $200; the license runs 12 months and renews annually for another $200, and it is not transferable.
The license fixes the exact building where business may be conducted, and moving without circuit-court consent and police notification is a separate violation. Section 15-147 caps the county at no more than ten licensed pawnshop locations at any time, none of which may sit closer than one mile to another licensed shop.
Violations & Fines
Section 15-145 makes any violation of the pawnbroker article a Class 4 misdemeanor by default, with the court able to suspend or revoke the license for a second or later offense. Operating without the required license, or at an undesignated location, is instead a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 15-146(e), charged separately for each day of violation. Violations also count as prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pawnshops can operate in Henrico County?
What does it cost to get a pawnbroker license in Henrico?
What happens if someone pawns items without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.