Durham, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Purchase record hold period
- 5 days before resale or removal
- Daily police report deadline
- Before 10:00 a.m. each business day
- Annual pawnbroker license tax
- $275.00 (Sec. 30-262)
- Corporate disclosure
- Sworn statement of officers required
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor; license revocation possible
Summary
Durham pawnbrokers must file a sworn statement naming their corporate officers, log every item purchased or pawned along with the seller's identity, and hold each item open to inspection for at least five days before moving or reselling it, under Chapter 54's pawnbroker and secondhand-goods article.
Any corporation engaged in the business of pawnbroker, junk dealer or secondhand goods dealer shall file and maintain with the collector of revenue a current and accurate statement under oath setting forth the officers of such corporation. Failure to file and keep current such statement shall be sufficient cause for revocation of the license of such pawnbroker, junk dealer or secondhand goods dealer. ... Persons engaged in the business of buying or dealing secondhand goods, wares and merchandise, including junk dealers and pawnbrokers, shall record in a book kept for that purpose each article purchased or pawned and the name, race, residence and occupation of the seller or pawner. Such records shall contain a full description of such articles and show all distinguishing marks, numbers, brands, letters or monograms of any kind on such articles. Every article so purchased or pawned shall remain at such place of business of such dealer open to inspection for at least five days before being moved or otherwise disposed of. In addition to any other remedy available in the Code, violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Section 54-242 requires any corporation running a pawnbroker, junk dealer, or secondhand goods business to file and keep current a sworn statement naming its officers with the collector of revenue; failing to keep that statement current is grounds for the city to revoke the pawnbroker's license outright. Section 54-243 then requires every pawnbroker to record each pawned or purchased article in a dedicated book, capturing the seller's or pawner's name, race, residence, and occupation along with a full description showing distinguishing marks, numbers, brands, or monograms, and to keep that article at the place of business, open to inspection, for at least five days before it is moved or disposed of.
on every business day, the pawnbroker must report to the police department a list and description of everything received, acquired, or loaned on the previous day, along with the race, sex, residence, and occupation of the person from whom it was received; the list must be signed by the license holder (or a corporate officer for a corporate licensee) and marked "none" or "not open for business" if applicable. 00 for the privilege of transacting the business.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep the required purchase-and-pawn record, missing the five-day hold, or skipping the 10:00 a.m. daily police report is a Class 3 misdemeanor under the general penalty in Sec. 1-8(a), up to a $50 fine (unless a section states a higher maximum) and up to 20 days imprisonment, with no fine exceeding $500. Failing to keep the corporate officer disclosure current under Sec. 54-242 is separate grounds for the tax collector to revoke the pawnbroker's license entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records must a Durham pawnbroker keep on every transaction?
How long must a Durham pawnbroker hold an item before reselling it?
Do Durham pawnbrokers have to report to police every day?
Is a Durham pawnbroker license separate from other business licenses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham
Compare Durham to another location·View the North Carolina business licensing & operations overview
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