Lynnwood, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LMC 5.16.020
- Annual license fee
- $374
- Required bond
- $1,000
- Employee investigation fee
- $74 one-time
- Resale holding period
- 30 days
- Seller rescission window
- 10 days
- Background check agency
- Lynnwood Police Department
Summary
Anyone operating a pawnshop in Lynnwood, Washington must hold a city pawnbroker's license under LMC 5.16.020 before loaning money against pledged goods or buying and selling secondhand property. The license runs $374 a year, requires a $1,000 bond, and every employee who handles transactions needs a separate license cleared through a police background check.
A. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of pawnbroker, as defined in LMC 5.16.010(C), without first procuring a license to do so, to be known as a "pawnbroker's license." The licenses required under this chapter are separate from the licenses required under Chapter 5.06 LMC. B. Any person having more than one pawnshop in the city shall be required to procure a separate license for each and every such place of business. ... D. If the license application(s), as provided for herein, are approved, the business license clerk shall issue a license(s) to the applicant upon his executing and delivering to the city a bond to be approved by the city attorney, in the amount of $1,000, conditioned that such licensee conducts such business in compliance with all of the laws of the city, state and the United States.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010(C)). 020 makes it unlawful to run that business without a pawnbroker's license, and a separate license is required for each pawnshop location in the city. Approval requires executing a $1,000 bond to the city attorney's satisfaction, and the license must display the licensee's photograph and physical description, refreshed at every renewal. 022, including fingerprinting and a review of criminal history and complaints; the chief of police must give the business license clerk a written recommendation within 30 days. 104 LMC: $374 per year for the pawnbroker's license and a $74 one-time investigation fee for each new employee.
050 bars licensees from taking pledges or purchases from anyone under 18, intoxicated, on drugs, or known to have a burglary, theft, forgery or fraud conviction in the past 10 years. 061 requires pawnbrokers to hold purchased goods for 30 days before reselling them and gives sellers a 10-day right to rescind a sale by repaying the purchase price plus interest. 060. 080.
Violations & Fines
Charging interest above the state-authorized rate, employing an unlicensed pawnbroker employee, or violating the 30-day hold or 10-day rescission rule under LMC 5.16.061 is a misdemeanor. Unless a specific penalty applies, any Title 5 violation carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, under LMC 5.04.130, and the director may revoke or suspend the business license under LMC 5.04.045, barring a former holder from reopening in the city for two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate pawnbroker license for each shop location in Lynnwood?
How long must a Lynnwood pawnbroker hold an item before reselling it?
Can a Lynnwood pawnshop refuse to buy from someone with a theft conviction?
Do pawnbroker employees need their own license in Lynnwood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
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Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle pawnbrokers.