Glendale, AZ Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 21-41 (general operating requirements)
- State license cross-reference
- A.R.S. § 44-1627 pawnbroker license
- Police report deadline
- Within 2 business days of receipt
- Resale hold
- 20 days after report delivered
- Civil sanction
- Up to $2,500 per violation, § 21-48
Summary
Glendale defines a pawnshop by reference to the state pawnbroker's license under A.R.S. § 44-1627, requires a City special regulatory license before operating one, and forces daily reporting of pledged goods to the police within two business days.
Whenever goods or articles, as described below, are obtained from a particular person by a pawnshop or secondhand dealer, whether by consignment, deposit, pawn, pledge, trade or purchase, such licensee shall be required to deliver to the chief of police, or his designee, within two (2) business days after receipt, a true and complete report of all such goods or articles received by such licensee.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 115).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 21, Article I defines and licenses pawnshops. § 44-1627 operates, whether the business is pawn brokerage, loaning money secured by pawns or pledges, or buying personal property with an agreement to resell it at a price set at purchase. Section 21-2 makes it unlawful to operate as a pawnshop operator in the city without first obtaining a special regulatory license under this article. Section 21-3 disqualifies applicants convicted of a felony involving dishonesty, deceit, theft, assaultive conduct or sexual misconduct within five years, those lacking good moral character under Section 21-4, minors, and anyone denied or revoked within the prior six months; Section 21-4 requires a fingerprint-based criminal history check by the chief of police.
Section 21-41(a) requires every pawnshop operator to check an unexpired, government-issued photo ID before accepting any item on consignment, deposit, pawn, pledge, trade or purchase, and bars taking goods from anyone under 18 without a parent or guardian's ID. Section 21-41(b) requires the operator to deliver a complete report on every item received, including the amount loaned or paid, the pawn ticket number, the supplier's identification, a fingerprint and signature, to the chief of police within two business days. Section 21-41(c) then bars selling, exchanging or removing that property from the premises for twenty days after the report is delivered.
Violations & Fines
Section 21-48 requires a per-report fee whenever a report includes a firearm, jewelry, an item bearing a serial number, or an item worth $100 or more, and imposes a civil sanction of up to $2,500 per violation for willfully failing to comply; those violations are civil code infractions enforceable in city court under Chapter 13, Article II. Separately, Section 21-3 lets the chief of police deny or revoke a special regulatory license for issuance-standard violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Glendale require a separate city license for pawnshops?
How fast must a Glendale pawnshop report pledged items to police?
How long must a Glendale pawnshop hold an item before reselling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
Compare Glendale to another location·View the Arizona business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle pawnbrokers.