Pawnbrokers operating in Houston must hold a Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner license under Texas Finance Code Chapter 371. Maximum interest is 20% per month on small pawns, items must be held 30 days, and Houston Police monitor transaction reporting through LeadsOnline.
Texas Finance Code Chapter 371 governs pawn transactions statewide. Pawnbrokers must obtain a license from the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, post a $100,000 surety bond per location, and pay annual fees. Maximum monthly pawn-service charge is set by formula and currently runs about 20% per month on the smallest tier, declining for larger loans. Pledged items must be held at least 30 days plus the loan term before forfeiture. Pawnshops file daily LeadsOnline reports accessible to Houston Police, verify customer identification, and record each item by serial number. State preemption bars Houston from imposing higher rate caps or local licensing, though HPD's Pawn Unit handles theft-recovery inquiries.
Operating without an OCCC license, exceeding statutory rate caps, selling pledged items before the 30-day hold expires, or skipping LeadsOnline reporting triggers OCCC administrative penalties up to $1,000 per day, license revocation, and HPD criminal referrals.
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