Fayette County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Section 8-282 bars pawn transactions except through a licensee, and section 8-286 requires an annual application filed with code enforcement, with the fee set by county action and renewal due by November 1 each year. Section 8-284 disqualifies any owner, employee or pawnbroker convicted of a felony within the prior five years, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, gambling, sexual offenses, assault, battery, the Family Violence Act, or drugs within the prior two years; applicants must also be Georgia residents at least 18 years old.

Section 8-285 requires every pawnshop employee to hold a separate identification badge issued after a code enforcement background check. , Monday through Saturday, and section 8-283 requires strict compliance with the county zoning ordinance and bars operation from a motel or hotel. Section 8-290 requires pledged and non-pledged goods to be held at least 30 days before resale, section 8-291 bars pawn transactions with anyone under 18, and section 8-295 requires every transaction to be transmitted electronically to the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, including the customer's photograph, signature and fingerprint.

Section 8-294 allows the board of commissioners to suspend or revoke a license for bankruptcy, an unreported ownership change, fraud in the application, or loss of qualifications, with an appeal to the board under section 8-300 and a further appeal to Fayette County Superior Court within 30 days.