Lane County, OR Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- State license
- required under ORS Chapter 726
- Pledge photo
- not required, unlike other dealer purchases
- Pledge resale hold
- 14-day wait does not apply
- Non-pledge purchases
- still held 14 days like any dealer
- Stolen-item hold
- up to 180 days by Sheriff's notice
- First-offense fine
- up to $500
Summary
Lane County pawnbrokers are licensed by the state under ORS Chapter 726, but the county's used-merchandise-dealer ordinance still governs their day-to-day operations. Lane Code 3.200 requires the same ID recording and 12-hour electronic reporting as any secondhand dealer, with two narrow carve-outs written specifically for pledges taken as loan collateral.
"Pawnbroker" means person, partnership, corporation or other business association licensed as a pawnbroker under ORS Chapter 726. "Pledge" means any article deposited with a pawnbroker in the course of the business of the pawnbroker as defined in this section. ... The used merchandise dealer shall record an identifying description and take a discernible, clear photograph of all jewelry, gems and precious metal items. Pawnbrokers accepting a pledge are not required to photograph the pledged item. ... The 14-day holding period does not apply to a pledge held by a pawnbroker.
Full Breakdown
005 defines "Pawnbroker" as a person, partnership, corporation or other business association licensed as a pawnbroker under ORS Chapter 726, and defines a "Pledge" as any article deposited with a pawnbroker in the course of the pawnbroking business. 020. The code carves out two exceptions specifically for pledges. 015B excuses a pawnbroker from photographing a pledged item, even though every other used-merchandise dealer must photograph jewelry, gems and precious-metal purchases. 035A excuses a pledge from the standard 14-day resale hold that otherwise applies to purchased regulated property; a pawnbroker's outright purchases, as opposed to loan collateral, still sit for the full 14 days.
035B lets the Sheriff order it held for up to 180 days by written notice. 010, covering burglary, theft, drug manufacture and Schedule I/II drug possession, applies to pawnbrokers as it does to any used merchandise dealer.
Violations & Fines
Violating the recording, reporting or hold rules carries the same escalating fine ladder as any used merchandise dealer: up to $500 for a first offense under LC 3.300.010B, up to $1,500 per violation after three convictions, and up to $3,000 per violation after six, with each day of a continuing violation billed separately. A pawnbroker who repeatedly and substantially violates the chapter can also be enjoined by court order from operating, on top of any separate discipline the state imposes on the ORS 726 pawnbroker license itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Lane County pawnshop need a separate county license?
Why don't pawnshops have to photograph pledged jewelry?
Can a pawnshop resell a pledged item right away if the loan isn't repaid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lane County
Compare Lane County to another location·View the Oregon business licensing & operations overview
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