Manchester, NH Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- City Clerk, vetted by Chief of Police
- License expires
- April 30 annually
- City transaction fee
- $1 per recorded transaction
- Item hold period
- 30 days before resale
- Background check
- 10-year criminal record required
Summary
Manchester requires City Clerk-issued licenses for pawnbrokers, vetted by the Chief of Police, with a 10-year criminal background check, $1 per-transaction city fee, and a mandatory 30-day hold on purchased goods before resale.
No person, firm, or corporation shall engage in the business of junk dealers, junk collector, pawnbroker, pawnshop or secondhand dealer, auctioneer, or auction house as defined by § 110.01 of this title unless licensed therefor by the City Clerk.
(B) Applications for such licenses shall be made to the City Clerk, upon blanks furnished by him for that purpose and shall be submitted by him to the Chief of Police who may cause an investigation to be made of the fitness of the applicant to engage in the business of a junk dealer, junk collector, pawnbroker, pawnshop or secondhand dealer, auctioneer, or auction house, and report his findings to the City Clerk before such license is acted upon and the following fee shall be paid to the City Clerk:
(1) If the applicant has a fixed place of business within the city, the fee shall be as provided for under §
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
City of Manchester Code § 114.01 requires a City Clerk-issued license before anyone operates as a pawnbroker or pawnshop. The Chief of Police investigates each applicant's fitness, and owners, managers, and employees must submit a certified 10-year criminal record check; a theft-related conviction in that period bars licensure. Licenses run through April 30 and can be revoked by the Committee on Administration for cause after notice and hearing. Pawnbrokers must file electronic transaction records with photos of each item, per § 114.03, and hold purchased goods 30 days before resale, paying the city $1 per recorded transaction.
Violations & Fines
Operating unlicensed, falsifying transaction records, or reselling an item before the 30-day hold expires violates § 10.99's general penalty: a fine up to the RSA 47:17 maximum, with each day counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who licenses pawnbrokers in Manchester?
How long must a pawnbroker hold purchased items?
What records must a Manchester pawnshop keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
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Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle pawnbrokers.