Gardena, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Community Development Director, reviewed by Police
- Daily report deadline
- before 10:00 a.m. each day
- Resale hold
- 30 days (pawn/secondhand), 7 days (junk)
- Business hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sun. 9-6
- Revocation bar
- 6 months before permit can reissue
Summary
Operating as a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer or junk dealer in the City of Gardena requires a permit from the community development director, forwarded to the police department for review, under Municipal Code Section 5.60.020. The Chief of Police must grant it unless the applicant has a prior conviction involving stolen property.
§ 5.60.020. Permit required. A. No person shall engage in, conduct, manage, carry on or deal in any business defined in Section 5.60.010 without first obtaining a permit from the community development director in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.04.160 of this Code. However, the only department that the application shall be forwarded to shall be the Police Department. The Chief of Police shall direct that the permit be granted to any applicant who has not been convicted of an attempt to receive stolen property or any other offense involving stolen property. B. The permit required by this section shall be in addition to any land use approval that may be required pursuant to Title 18 of the Gardena Municipal Code.
Full Breakdown
Section 5.60.020 requires anyone engaging in the pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer or junk collector businesses defined in Section 5.60.010 to obtain a permit from the community development director, with the application routed only to the police department; the chief of police must grant the permit unless the applicant has been convicted of receiving stolen property or a similar offense. The permit is in addition to any land use approval required under Title 18. Permit holders must file a daily report with the chief of police before 10:00 a.m. describing every item pledged, purchased or received the day before, including the seller's name, address and physical description and, for pledges, the pawn ticket number and amount loaned, under Section 5.60.070, and must keep a duplicate record open to police inspection at all times under Section 5.60.090.
Pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers cannot resell an item within thirty days of receiving it, and junk dealers and junk collectors cannot resell within seven days, under Section 5.60.120. Businesses must post a sign in English, visible from the sidewalk, stating the business conducted, under Section 5.60.130, and cannot transact business between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or outside 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, under Section 5.60.140. If the chief of police finds property pledged or sold was stolen, the chief can order it returned to the owner without compensation to the dealer under Section 5.60.160.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, or violating any provision of Chapter 5.60, lets the chief of police revoke or suspend the permit, with no refund of fees paid, and a revoked permit cannot be reissued for six months under Section 5.60.060. Failing to file the required daily reports or keep records open to police inspection is itself a separate violation under Section 5.60.110.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves a pawnshop permit in Gardena?
How soon can a Gardena pawnshop resell a pledged item?
What hours can a Gardena pawnshop or secondhand store operate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gardena
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