Kalamazoo, MI Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

City Code § 24-2 makes it unlawful to engage in the business of a pawnbroker in Kalamazoo without a license issued by the City Clerk under MCLA § 446.201 et seq. The license runs for one year, April 1 to March 30, is nontransferable, and its fee, set by City Commission resolution, is halved for applicants who apply after November 1. Section 24-3.A requires a written application proving the applicant's identity with a Michigan driver's license or ID card, plus the applicant's name, address, criminal record, and prior experience as a pawnbroker, along with authorization for the City Clerk and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety to run a background investigation, which under § 24-3.B(3) can include fingerprinting and photographing the applicant and any employees, officers, partners or agents.

Section 24-3.D requires the Clerk to deny the license if the applicant owes unpaid City property taxes or other debts, and separately requires denial if the applicant or any associated employee, officer, partner or agent has, within the last 10 years, been convicted of violating Chapter 24 or Chapter 25, or of a crime involving theft, dishonesty, receipt of stolen property or embezzlement, or has been convicted of any felony within the last five years. A denied applicant gets mailed notice of the reasons and may request a hearing within 10 days under § 24-8, or reapply with a new application and fee.

Licenses list with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and pawnbrokers must keep identity and transaction records under § 24-4, including a photo of the property, its description, and the customer's right thumbprint.