Baltimore County, MD Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

D, the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections may not accept a special exception petition for a new pawnshop once the county already has 12 valid dealers' licenses in use for pawn operations; the Chief of Police tracks license status from dealer transaction sheets and reports it to the Director. E, freeing a slot. 3 requires a pawnshop abutting a residential zone, school or church to install a six-foot board-on-board fence or a brick wall combined with landscaping. It restricts wall signage to twice the wall's length or 50 square feet, whichever is less, bans freestanding signs entirely, and prohibits any exterior temporary signage, including in windows.

Use of the word "pawn" or the three-golden-balls symbol is restricted to licensed pawnshops, and firearm sales are prohibited unless separately authorized by federal and state agencies. 4 adds that a special-exception pawnshop cannot locate within a one-mile radius of another pawnshop, caps the total at two per councilmanic district, and lets the Zoning Commissioner limit hours of operation. 5 places enforcement with the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections under Article 32, Title 3 of the County Code and Article 5 of the zoning regulations.