Fort Myers, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Sec. 18-223, before doing business
- Approval needed
- City council + police chief permit
- Annual license fee
- $375.00 local business tax
- Applicant bond
- Required against stolen-goods liability
- Unlicensed penalty
- $135–$500 fine or 60 days jail
Summary
Fort Myers requires anyone operating as a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer or precious metals dealer to hold a city license before doing business, approved by city council after a police department investigation.
No person shall engage in the business of a secondhand dealer, pawnbroker, junk dealer or precious metals dealer in the city, whether temporarily, irregularly or continually, or whether with a fixed place of business or as an itinerant peddler, without first having obtained a license from the city pursuant to section 82-205.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-223 makes it unlawful to engage in the business of a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer or precious metals dealer in the city, temporarily or continually, at a fixed location or as an itinerant peddler, without first obtaining a license under section 82-205. Applicants file a written application with the city council listing residency, employment history and any felony convictions, and post a bond covering losses from dealing in stolen goods. The Sec. 82-205 fee schedule sets an annual local business tax of $375.00 for a pawnbroker license, issued only after city council approval and a permit from the chief of police.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license is a code violation carrying the city's general penalty: a minimum $135.00 fine, up to $500.00, plus up to 60 days in jail under Sec. 1-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pawnbrokers need a license to operate in Fort Myers?
How much does a Fort Myers pawnbroker license cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
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