Forsyth County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License required from
- Forsyth County sheriff's office
- Hours allowed
- 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Mon-Sat
- Application fee
- $25 + $250 investigative fee
- Minimum age
- 21 years old
- Record retention
- 4 years, transaction book
- Max fine
- $1,000 and/or 60 days jail
Summary
Pawnbrokers in Forsyth County must hold a county license issued through the sheriff's office and board of commissioners before conducting any pawn or pledge transaction, and can only operate between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Applicants face fingerprinting, a criminal history check, and disqualification for a felony or misdemeanor conviction within the prior five years.
(a)Pawnbrokers may operate only after the issuance of a license for such operation by Forsyth County and only in the manner permitted by such license. Pawn or pledge transactions may only occur through a licensee who complies with the rules and regulations of this article and with the licensing, regulatory and revenue requirements of the State of Georgia...(e)(1)Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-11-173(b), firearms shall not be regulated pursuant to this article. However, pawnbrokers must comply with all requirements, including but not limited to record-keeping requirements, for firearms as specified in O.C.G.A. § 44-12-132, of Title 44, Chapter 12, Article 3, Part 5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and shall be subject to all applicable criminal penalties under State law for any violations of same.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 43).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-91 makes clear that pawnbrokers may operate only after Forsyth County issues a license, and only in the manner the license permits; every pawn or pledge transaction must run through a licensee who complies with both the county article and state licensing, regulatory and revenue law. citizen, legal permanent resident, or qualified alien or non-immigrant with a Department of Homeland Security alien number, and applicants must be at least 21 years old. A felony or misdemeanor conviction, or a nolo contendere plea, within five years before applying disqualifies the applicant, as does any prior pawnshop license suspension or revocation tied to the applicant's business associates.
00 investigative fee, full fingerprinting submitted to the Georgia Crime Information Center and FBI, and board of commissioners approval at a public hearing. , Monday through Saturday. report to the sheriff's office with photographs of both the item and the seller. § 16-11-173(b) and § 16-11-136(b) bar the county from regulating them under this article, though pawnbrokers still must follow the state's separate firearm record-keeping law.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or violating recordkeeping, reporting or hours-of-operation rules, exposes a pawnbroker to progressive license suspension: a first violation draws a warning or suspension up to 30 days, a second within 24 months draws 30 to 90 days, and a third draws 90 days to six months. Beyond suspension, a citation in Forsyth County Magistrate Court can carry a fine up to $1,000.00 and up to 60 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Forsyth County pawnshop open before 7 a.m. or stay open past 9 p.m.?
Can someone with a recent conviction get a pawnbroker license?
Are guns and knives covered by the county pawnbroker rules?
How long must a pawnshop keep records of a transaction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
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