Brown County, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing statute
- Wis. Stat. § 134.71 (adopted)
- Photo required
- color photo, min. 2x2 inches
- Reporting
- daily to RLEA electronically
- Late-report fee
- $10 per day
- Applies in
- unincorporated towns only
Summary
Pawnbrokers doing business in unincorporated Brown County, Wisconsin operate under Wis. Stat. § 134.71 as adopted by the county, plus local daily-transaction reporting and photo-documentation duties enforced by the Sheriff's office: separate from any license Green Bay or another city issues.
30.08 PAWN BROKERS AND SECONDHAND ARTICLE AND JEWELRY DEALERS. (1) PURPOSE AND STATUTORY AUTHORITY. Section 134.71, Wis. Stats., is hereby adopted and, by reference, made a part of this chapter with the same force and effect as though fully set out herein notwithstanding the below Subsections. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a violation of this chapter, punishable according to the penalties set forth in §1.07 of the Brown County Code of Ordinances.
Full Breakdown
Brown County Code § 30.08 adopts Wis. Stat. § 134.71 by reference to govern pawnbrokers in the unincorporated towns, and layers on local paperwork: every pawnbroker must photograph in color any item taken in pawn or purchase that lacks a permanent serial number, and must report every reportable transaction to the county's Responsible Law Enforcement Agency daily through the RLEA's system, posting a sign telling customers transactions are reported. A pawnbroker who can't transmit reports electronically owes a $10 daily reporting-failure fee until the problem is fixed. Violations are punishable under the county's general penalty, Code § 1.07.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with § 30.08's photo or daily-reporting duties is a violation of Chapter 30, punishable under Brown County Code § 1.07(1): a forfeiture of $1 to $300 plus prosecution costs, or jail up to 90 days for nonpayment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover pawnshops inside Green Bay?
What has to be photographed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brown County
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