Indianapolis, IN Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

City Code Sec. 951-101 defines a pawnbroker as anyone who lends money on the deposit or pledge of personal property, or who buys personal property on condition of selling it back at a stipulated price. Sec. 951-102 makes it unlawful to engage in that business without a license from the license administrator, though a pawnbroker does not need a separate secondhand-goods dealer license to sell pledged items at the same licensed location. The annual fee is $320 for each place of business (Sec. 951-104; Sec.

131-501). Applicants agree in writing that they claim no ownership interest in stolen property received in the course of business and will surrender it to police on request (Sec. 951-103). Licensees cannot buy from anyone who is intoxicated, a minor, or known or suspected of disposing of goods unlawfully (Sec. 951-105). Every transaction must be logged with a description of the article, the loan amount or purchase price, the exact time, the seller's name, address, phone number, age, physical description, and a copy of government-issued ID, a photograph, the pawn ticket number, plus the seller's signature and right thumbprint retained for three years (Sec.

951-106). A duplicate three-by-five card for each pawned article, including the thumbprint, must be mailed to the police department covering the business location no later than the next business day (Sec. 951-107). Pawned or purchased property must be held intact for at least seven business days after the licensee mails the required police report, and for 30 days once police or an individual gives written notice of an adverse ownership claim (Sec. 951-108). No pawnbroker may accept serial-numbered property unless the serial number is plainly visible (Sec. 951-109).