East Orange, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 195, adopted 6-12-1972
- Licensing official
- Chief of Police
- Compliance also required
- Ch. 51 Land Use; N.J.S.A. 45:22-1 et seq.
- License scope
- Separate license per premises
- Fee source
- Ch. 170 license fee schedule
- Max penalty
- $2,000 fine, 90 days
Summary
In the City of East Orange, Chapter 195 requires anyone operating a pawnbroker business to comply with Chapter 51's land use rules and New Jersey's pawnbroker statute, and to obtain a license from the Chief of Police before opening. The Chief can deny an application over health, welfare or morals concerns, and revoke a license after notice and a hearing.
§ 195-2. Requisites for maintaining business. No pawnbroker shall maintain, keep and operate a business within the City unless all the provisions of Chapter 51, Land Use, of this Code, and N.J.S.A. 45:22-1 through 45:22-20, its supplements and amendments, have been met and evidences of such compliance delivered to the City official. § 195- ... ... 4. Fee; separate license for each premises. If the City official approves the license to operate such pawnbroker business, the same shall be issued for a fee in accordance with the schedule of license fees in Chapter 170, Licenses and Fees, of this Code. ... ... § 195-6. Violations and penalties. ... Violators of any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days and/or 90 days of community service.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 195, Pawnbrokers, was adopted by the City Council on June 12, 1972 by Ordinance No. 24-1972. Section 195-1 designates the Chief of Police as the 'City official' who administers the chapter and defines a pawnbroker broadly to include anyone lending money on deposit or pledge of personal property, buying property on condition of selling it back at a set price, or operating as a furniture storage warehouseman lending against pledged goods. Section 195-2 bars anyone from maintaining, keeping or operating a pawnbroker business in the City unless the requirements of Chapter 51, Land Use, and New Jersey's pawnbroker statute, N.J.S.A.
45:22-1 through 45:22-20, are met and proof of compliance is delivered to the Chief. Under Section 195-3, an applicant must complete and submit a license application, and the Chief decides whether operating the business at the proposed location would affect the health, welfare and morals of the City; a denial must be explained in writing and provided to the applicant on demand. Section 195-4 requires a separate license, and a separate fee under Chapter 170's license fee schedule, for each place of business. Section 195-5 lets the Chief revoke a license, after written notice and a hearing, for violating the state pawnbroker statute or any further regulation the City Council adopts as part of the license application.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 195 is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, and up to 90 days of community service under Section 195-6. Separately, the Chief of Police can revoke a pawnbroker's license after written notice and a hearing if the pawnbroker violates the state pawnbroker statute or a City Council regulation adopted under the licensing chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues a pawnbroker license in East Orange?
Can East Orange deny a pawnbroker license application?
Does a pawnbroker need a separate license for each store?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Orange
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