Chesterfield County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Report deadline
- Noon the day after the transaction
- Filing method
- Electronic, chief-approved format
- Serial number rule
- No altered or removed serials accepted
- Penalty
- Class 4 misdemeanor
- State authority
- Va. Code §§ 54.1-4009, 54.1-4010
Summary
Every pawnbroker doing business in Chesterfield County must file a daily electronic report with the police chief by noon the next day covering everything pawned, pledged or sold that day, including the customer's ID and a photo of it. Violating the rule is a class 4 misdemeanor.
Pursuant to Code of Virginia, §§ 54.1-4009 and 54.1-4010, every pawnbroker conducting business in the county shall prepare a daily report of all goods, articles or things pawned or pledged with him or sold to him that day and shall file such report by noon of the following day with the chief of police of the county... No goods, article, or thing shall be pawned or pledged or received on account of money loaned or purchased for resale if the original serial number affixed to the goods, article, or thing has been removed, defaced, or altered.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
1-4010, requires every pawnbroker conducting business in Chesterfield to prepare a daily report of all goods, articles or things pawned, pledged, or sold to the pawnbroker that day, and to file it by noon of the following day with the chief of police. The report must include the pledgor's or seller's name, residence, and driver's license number or other government-issued photo ID number, a photograph or digital image of that identification, and a description of the goods pledged. Pawnbrokers must maintain and file the report electronically, whether by disk, electronic transmission, or another method the chief of police approves.
Section 15-255(b) separately bars accepting any item as a pledge, loan security, or purchase for resale if its original serial number has been removed, defaced, or altered, a rule aimed at preventing pawnshops from becoming an outlet for stripped stolen property. 00 surety bond on dealers who buy precious metals and gems, but § 15-255 applies specifically and separately to licensed pawnbrokers.
Violations & Fines
Any person, firm or corporation violating § 15-255, whether by failing to file the daily report on time or accepting an item with an altered serial number, is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The report requirement is enforced by the Chesterfield County Police Department, which reviews the daily filings against active theft investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast must a Chesterfield County pawnbroker report a transaction to police?
Can a pawnbroker accept an item with the serial number removed?
What is the penalty for a Chesterfield pawnbroker who skips the daily report?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesterfield County
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