Placer County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Placer County Sheriff, § 5.28.070
- Hold period
- 20 days before resale, § 5.28.020
- Business hours
- Closed Sundays/holidays; 7 p.m.-8 a.m. daily, § 5.28.040
- Daily reporting
- Written report to sheriff before 10 a.m.
- Revocation bar
- 6 months before relicensing after revocation
Summary
Operating as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer in unincorporated Placer County requires a sheriff-issued license under County Code § 5.28.060, daily transaction reports to the sheriff, a 20-day merchandise hold, and compliance with fixed hours of business.
§ 5.28.060. Required. It is unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer without having a valid, existing and unrevoked license therefor. § 5.28.070. Issuance. The licenses required by the preceding section shall be issued by the sheriff on application therefor. Fees related to obtaining this license from the sheriff are provided in Article 2.124 of this code.
Full Breakdown
060 makes it unlawful to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer without having a valid, existing and unrevoked license therefor. 124 of the code. m. 020 requires every item purchased or received to be held for at least 20 days before resale, kept separate from other stock, and available for police inspection during that period. 130, open to inspection by any authorized police officer. 030 lets the sheriff order it returned to the rightful owner without compensation to the dealer after a hearing.
Violations & Fines
Section 5.28.080 lets the sheriff revoke a pawnbroker's or secondhand dealer's license for violating any provision of Article 5.28, and a revoked licensee cannot be relicensed for six months. Revocation requires a hearing under § 5.28.090, with written notice of the grounds served at least three days beforehand. Operating without a license, or allowing an unlicensed person to deal under § 5.28.100, is a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Placer County require a license to run a pawnshop?
How long must a pawnbroker hold purchased goods before reselling them?
What hours can a pawnshop operate in unincorporated Placer County?
Can the county revoke a pawnbroker's license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
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