Kennewick, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License type
- Class II business license
- Reporting
- Daily electronic report to police
- Resale hold
- 30 days minimum
- Penalty range
- $25 to $500 per violation
Summary
Kennewick requires pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers to hold a Class II business license, report transactions to police daily, and hold purchased goods 30 days before resale.
No person may engage in the business of being a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer without securing a license as required by this Chapter. No license is required for motor vehicle dealers licensed under Chapter 46.70 RCW, motor vehicle wreckers and hulk haulers licensed under Chapter 46.79 or 46.80 RCW, persons giving an allowance for the trade-in or exchange of secondhand property on the purchase of other merchandise of the same kind of greater value, persons in the business of buying or selling empty food and beverage containers or metal or nonmetal junk, and persons holding a yard sale.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
KMC Chapter 6.17 makes it unlawful to operate as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer in Kennewick without a Class II license under KMC 6.17.020 and 6.17.040. Licensees must electronically transmit a daily record of every loan, purchase or consignment to the Kennewick Police Department's tracking database before noon, per KMC 6.17.070, including the seller's ID, a full item description and photographs. Property received in pledge or purchase cannot be resold or removed from the business for 30 days under KMC 6.17.080(4), and pawned items carry an additional 60-day redemption grace period under KMC 6.17.080(7). Motor vehicle dealers, trade-in allowances and yard sales are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, falsifying required transaction records, or selling pledged/purchased goods before the 30-day hold expires can bring license suspension or revocation and a $25 to $500 penalty under KMC 6.17.085 and 6.17.090.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pawnshops need a special license in Kennewick?
How long must a pawnbroker hold purchased items before reselling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
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