Independence, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- RSMo § 367.043 + City license
- Net assets
- $50,000 minimum
- Interest cap
- 2% per month
- Buffer distance
- 1,200 ft. from schools/parks
- Penalty
- Up to $500/day per violation
Summary
Independence requires every pawnshop to hold a City-issued license backed by $50,000 in net assets, liability insurance, and location limits keeping shops 1,200 feet from schools, parks, and residential zoning.
No person shall operate a pawnshop unless such person obtains a pawnshop license issued pursuant to this section, as authorized by RSMo 367.043. To be eligible for a pawnshop license, an applicant shall: 1.Be of good moral character; 2.Have net assets of at least $50,000.00 readily available for use in conducting business as a pawnshop for each licensed pawnshop; and 3.Show that the pawnshop will be operated lawfully and fairly under state law and City ordinance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Article 8 of Chapter 5 requires every pawnshop to hold a City license under RSMo Section 367.043, backed by at least $50,000 in net assets, good moral character, and a public liability policy of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Managers must separately hold a three-year pawnshop manager's permit. No pawnshop may operate within 1,200 feet of a school, religious institution, public park, or residentially zoned property, or within 1,000 feet of another pawnshop, and pawnbrokers may charge no more than 2% monthly interest on secured loans.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pawnshop without a license, or violating Article 8's location, recordkeeping, or interest-rate limits, is punishable by up to a $500 fine per violation, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a pawnshop be from a school or residential area?
What's the maximum interest a pawnbroker can charge?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Independence
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