Horry County, SC Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License issued by
- Horry County Public Safety
- Annual license fee
- $275
- Required bond
- $1,000 surety bond
- Business hours cap
- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only
- Daily police report deadline
- Before 9:59 p.m.
- Minimum age to pawn
- 18 years old
Summary
Anyone lending on pledged property or buying secondhand serialized goods from the public in unincorporated Horry County is a pawnbroker under county law and must hold a license from Horry County Public Safety, post a bond, and report every transaction electronically to police.
Any person, firm or corporation who loans money on pledge of personal property or other thing of value, other than securities or printed evidences of indebtedness, or who deals in the purchasing of personal property or other thing of value on condition of selling it back again at a stipulated price, is hereby declared and defined to be a "pawnbroker." Also any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of purchasing, selling, or trading in secondhand items, products, and/or merchandise including, but not limited to, electronics, computers, tools, firearms, sports equipment, musical equipment, cellular communication devices, appliances, or other items of value from the general public, is hereby declared and defined to be a "pawnbroker." Items exempt from mandatory reporting include books, clothing, furniture, or any item that normally does not have a unique serial or identification number.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
5-16 defines "pawnbroker" broadly: it covers not just someone who loans money on a pledge, but also "any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of purchasing, selling, or trading in secondhand items," including electronics, tools, firearms, and appliances bought from the general public, exempting only low-value goods without serial numbers like books or clothing. 5-19, denying licenses to anyone convicted of receiving stolen goods, burglary or robbery. 5-22. 5-24 requires a full description of each item, the loan amount, a thumbprint, a photo ID copy and a photograph of the customer for every transaction. 5-34. 5-30.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, failing to file the required bond, or missing the 9:59 p.m. daily electronic reporting deadline is punishable as a graduated fine under § 12.5-33: $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $300 for third and subsequent offenses, on top of possible license suspension or revocation. Accepting goods with an altered or missing serial number, or operating outside the 7:00 a.m.-to-9:00 p.m. window, is grounds for forfeiture of both the pawnbroker license and the occupation tax certificate under § 12.5-34.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do secondhand dealers count as pawnbrokers in Horry County?
How much does a Horry County pawnbroker license cost?
How fast must a pawnshop report transactions to police?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
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