Gulfport, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license fee
- $300.00 flat fee
- License year begins
- October 1 annually
- Minimum license term
- No license under six months
- Display requirement
- Must post license at business
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 60 days jail
- Revocation
- By council vote after hearing
Summary
Anyone lending money in Gulfport against pledged personal property must hold a city occupational license as a pawnbroker before opening. City Code defines the trade and requires a license under the general business-license article, and the fee schedule sets the annual charge at $300.00, one of the highest flat fees on the city's list.
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to engage in, conduct, manage, practice, carry on or otherwise do business, within the city, any business, trade, occupation, profession or other calling, for which a license is required under this chapter, unless such person ... obtains from the city such license and pays in advance therefor the fee required for such license. ... Pawnbroker: Any person, who engages in the business of lending money on personal property, which such property is delivered to or held by the lender or his designee, directly or indirectly, as security for the loan. ... (230)Pawnbroker ... ..300.00
Full Breakdown
" Section 13-2 makes it unlawful to "engage in, conduct, manage, practice, carry on or otherwise do business" in any calling the code licenses without first obtaining that license and paying the fee in advance. The license year runs from October 1 under Section 13-9, and Section 13-10 bars issuing any Chapter 13 license for less than six months. 00 fee listed nearby for small loan or industrial banking companies, which that entry expressly excludes pawnbrokers from. Once issued, Section 13-14 requires the license be conspicuously displayed at the place of business at all times and produced on request to any police officer or authorized city inspector.
The City Council may revoke a pawnbroker's license for cause under Section 13-13, but only after a hearing preceded by at least fifteen days' certified-mail notice stating the date, time, place and nature of the alleged offense, at which the license holder may hear and question witnesses and present a defense before the council votes.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a pawnbroker without the $300.00 annual license violates Chapter 13 and is punishable under Section 13-33's reference to the Code's general penalty, Section 1-6: a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued unlicensed operation a separate offense. The Council may also revoke an existing license for cause after a noticed hearing under Section 13-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gulfport require a special license to operate as a pawnbroker?
How much does a Gulfport pawnbroker license cost?
Can Gulfport revoke a pawnbroker's license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gulfport
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Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pinellas County handle pawnbrokers.