Lexington, KY Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $250.00/year (Sec. 13-13(22))
- Daily report
- Filed with Division of Police
- ID requirement
- Thumbprint from every pledgor
- Weekday hours
- 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday
- Unlicensed penalty
- Up to $500 + 12 months jail
Summary
Pawnbrokers in Lexington-Fayette must hold a $250 annual special fee license, file a daily report with the Division of Police on every pledge taken, and take a thumbprint from each person who pawns goods. The urban county government also locks pawnshop business hours to curb stolen-property trafficking.
Each person whose business or occupation is to take and receive by way of pledge, pawn, or exchange any goods, wares, merchandise or any kind of personal property as security for payment of money loaned thereon shall be deemed a pawnbroker and shall make a daily report to the division of police on forms provided by the urban county government for such reports or on a computer disk if the pawnbroker's records are maintained on a computer system. The pawnbroker shall require each person presenting the merchandise for pawn to provide a thumbprint. The thumbprint shall be maintained by the pawnbroker with other records of the pawn, and shall be made available to the division of police on demand.
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances Sec. 13-52, anyone whose business is to take goods, wares, merchandise or personal property as security for a loan, by pledge, pawn or exchange, is a pawnbroker and must file a daily report with the Lexington-Fayette Division of Police, either on forms the urban county government supplies or on computer disk if the shop's records are electronic. Every person who pawns an item must give the pawnbroker a thumbprint, which the shop keeps with its pawn records and must produce to police on demand.
Sec. 00 per year, paid in advance to the urban county government before the pawnbroker may lawfully operate. Sec. m. m. m. m. Saturdays, with an extended December 1-24 holiday window and mandatory closure on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Operating without the Sec. 13-13 license triggers the chapter's general Sec. 13-15 penalty.
Violations & Fines
Engaging in the pawnbroker business or advancing money on pledged goods without the Sec. 13-13(22) special fees license exposes the operator to the Sec. 13-15 penalty: a fine of up to $500.00 and/or imprisonment up to twelve months, with each day of continued unlicensed operation treated as a separate offense. Keeping the shop open outside the Sec. 13-53 hours draws a separate fine of up to $100.00 for each offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lexington pawnbrokers need a city license?
What records must a Lexington pawnshop keep?
Can a Lexington pawnshop stay open late at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington
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