Glen Cove, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Glen Cove City Code Chapter 205, Article I governs collateral loan brokers, the term the code uses for pawnbrokers. Section 205-1 makes it unlawful to carry on the business within city limits without first obtaining a license from the City Clerk. An applicant files a written application with the Clerk on a city-supplied form, states a five-year residential history, and submits proof of good character (§ 205-2). Under § 205-3, the Clerk keeps a bound, numbered registry recording the license purpose, issue date, fee paid, and the licensee's name, address and business location, and cannot refuse a license except for a specific reason tied to public safety, morals or general welfare.

The license fee is set from time to time by City Council resolution (§ 205-4). A license is personal and non-transferable: letting someone else use it, or using someone else's license, is itself a separate violation of the article (§ 205-5). Licenses run for one year from issuance (§ 205-6) and can be revoked or suspended by the City Clerk under the hearing procedure in § 184-2 of the Licensing chapter (§ 205-7). Anyone refused a license, or whose license is revoked, must wait at least six months before reapplying unless the underlying reason no longer exists (§ 205-8).

Every collateral loan broker must keep a running record of customer names and addresses, transaction dates, amounts loaned, and descriptions of pledged articles, open to inspection by any Glen Cove police officer at any time (§ 205-9). Article III sets the penalty: a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100 for a chapter violation, plus possible license suspension or revocation, and a separate $100-per-day fine for operating as a collateral loan broker with no license at all (§ 205-30).