Washoe County, NV Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- WCC § 25.353
- Applicant screening
- Sheriff fingerprints and background check
- Property hold period
- 15 days before resale (§ 25.3574)
- Employee permit term
- 5 years (§ 25.3573)
- Vehicle collateral
- Requires separate auto pawn license
- First-offense fine
- Up to $500 (secondhand store)
Summary
Washoe County requires a license before anyone operates a pawnbroker or secondhand store in the unincorporated area. The sheriff investigates every applicant, fingerprints are mandatory, and a separate auto pawn license is required before a pawnbroker can accept a vehicle or its title as loan collateral.
1.Except as provided in this section, no person shall operate or conduct a secondhand store or pawnbroker business in this county without having first obtained a license therefor.2.Secondhand stores engaged primarily in the automobile wrecking business or in the business of buying, selling, or trading secondhand books or periodicals shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 25.353 to 25.3575, inclusive.3.The requirements of sections 25.353 to 25.3575, inclusive, are intended to supplement the provisions of state law, particularly NRS Chapters 244 and 647. The requirements of this code shall not be construed to limit any requirements imposed under state law.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
353 makes it unlawful to operate or conduct a secondhand store or pawnbroker business in the county without first obtaining a license, and states the county's rules supplement, not limit, state law under NRS Chapters 244 and 647. 355 the sheriff investigates every applicant, collects a full set of fingerprints for FBI submission, and must deny a license to anyone convicted within the past ten years of receiving stolen goods, burglary, or robbery, or of a felony involving moral turpitude. 357), and must fingerprint every seller or pledger's right index finger. 3571; that license cannot issue to anyone without an underlying pawnbroker license. 3573, denied to anyone convicted of theft-related crimes within ten years. 047.
Violations & Fines
Operating a secondhand store without the required license is a misdemeanor: a first offense draws a fine up to $500, a second up to $1,000, and a third up to $2,000 plus revocation of the business license (§ 25.3579). A pawnbroker who violates the licensing chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punished under § 125.050, and unlawful acts include failing to report suspected stolen property, employing anyone without a valid sheriff work permit, or accepting goods without checking a passport, driver's license, or state ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to open a pawnshop in unincorporated Washoe County?
Can a Washoe County pawnbroker take a car title as loan collateral?
How long must a pawnbroker hold pledged property before selling it?
What happens if a pawnbroker employee lacks a work permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washoe County
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