Arizona Revised Statutes Section 44-1621 et seq. governs pawnbrokers statewide with strict recordkeeping and law-enforcement reporting requirements. Maricopa County Sheriff oversees unincorporated dealers; cities add local licensing on top of state rules.
Pawnbrokers in Arizona must register loans and items with the local police agency daily under ARS 44-1626, including borrower ID, photo, thumbprint when required, and serial numbers. Items must be held 90 days before forfeiture-resale under ARS 44-1625. Interest is capped at 10 percent per month plus permitted storage fees per ARS 44-1623. Maricopa County Sheriff handles unincorporated pawn shops and uses LeadsOnline. Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, and other cities issue separate pawnbroker licenses with fingerprint background checks and bonding requirements. Operators must post pawn-ticket disclosures and follow federal Truth-in-Lending Act terms.
Operating without required reporting is a Class 6 felony under ARS 44-1631. Excessive interest or missing disclosures trigger civil penalties and license revocation. Trafficking stolen property elevates to Class 2 felony under ARS 13-2307.
See how Mesa's pawnbrokers rules stack up against other locations.
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