Snohomish County, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual fee
- $300.00 per year
- Hold period
- 30 days before release
- Operating hours
- Closed 9:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.
- Daily reporting
- Transactions reported to sheriff
- Violation penalty
- Gross misdemeanor (RCW 9A.20.021)
- Prohibited sellers
- Under 18, intoxicated, prior thieves
Summary
Every pawnbroker operating in unincorporated Snohomish County needs a license under SCC 6.19.010, costs $300.00 a year, and requires sheriff fingerprinting and a background investigation before issuance. Pawnbrokers must record every transaction in detail, report daily to the sheriff, and hold pledged goods at least 30 days before releasing them.
"Pawnbroker" means any person engaged in whole or in part in the business of loaning money upon the taking or receiving of personal property as security for the repayment of such loans or any person who shall keep any store, shop, room or place where such goods are so taken or received. ... It is unlawful for any person to engage in a business as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer without first having obtained a license. The license shall include a photograph of the licensee.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
005(5) defines a pawnbroker as anyone engaged in loaning money against personal property taken as security, or who keeps a shop where such property is received. 00 per year for a pawnbroker. 022. 030 requires a detailed permanent record of every transaction: the customer's name, date of birth, physical description, address, a description of the property down to serial numbers and, for firearms, caliber and action type, the price paid, a right thumbprint, and the signature of the seller. 050 requires transmitting a transcript of the prior day's transactions to the sheriff's office, with no less than 24 hours allowed.
080 bars accepting property from anyone under 18, visibly intoxicated or drugged, known to be a convicted burglar or thief within the past 10 years, or attempting to pledge property the pawnbroker knows or suspects is stolen. 20 SCC.
Violations & Fines
SCC 6.19.110 makes a pawnbroker or employee guilty of a gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021 for failing to keep required transaction records, falsifying or destroying them, reporting falsely to the sheriff, failing to report suspected stolen property, releasing pledged goods before the 30-day hold expires, or knowingly accepting property from a prohibited seller. Each violation is enforced independently, and repeated violations can support license revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a pawnshop need a county license in Snohomish County?
How long must a pawnbroker hold an item before selling it?
Can a pawnbroker buy from anyone who walks in?
What are the penalties for violating Snohomish County's pawnbroker rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.