Pawnbrokers in Knoxville need a Tennessee state pawnbroker license under TCA 45-6 plus a city business license, and must report all pledged items daily to police.
Tennessee regulates pawnbrokers under TCA 45-6 through the Department of Financial Institutions, requiring a $50,000 net asset minimum, surety bond, and annual state license. Knoxville pawnshops must hold a city business license through Chapter 8 and comply with the secondhand-dealer reporting requirement: every pledged or purchased item must be reported daily to the Knoxville Police Department through the LeadsOnline electronic database. State law caps pawn finance charges and sets minimum 60-day redemption periods before forfeiture.
Failing to report items, exceeding interest caps, or operating unlicensed risks criminal misdemeanor, civil fines, and license revocation.
See how Knoxville's pawnbrokers rules stack up against other locations.
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