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San Mateo County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Annual license fee
$60.00
Goods hold period before resale
15 days minimum
Prohibited hours
7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Badge deposit / replacement
$10 deposit, $5 replacement
Minimum age to sell without consent
18 (parental consent below)
General violation penalty
Up to $500 fine or 6 months jail

Summary

Anyone running a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer, or junk collector business in unincorporated San Mateo County must hold an annual License Board license under County Code Chapter 5.32. Applicants and badge-eligible employees submit fingerprints to the Sheriff, pay the license fee, and clear character review before opening.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

5.32.060 - License required. (a)No person shall engage in, operate, maintain, or carry on the business of a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer, or junk collector, without first making Application therefor, paying the annual License fee therefor, and receiving a License from the License Board to engage in such business pursuant to Chapter 5.04 of this title.(b)Each Application for a License under this chapter shall be accompanied by the fingerprints of the Applicant and of each of his employees to receive a badge under Section 5.32.170 upon a form issued by the Sheriff of the County of San Mateo. ... 5.32.080 - License fees. The annual License fee for each License issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be $60.00.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).

Full Breakdown

04. 170, taken on a form issued by the Sheriff. 080. 100 sends the application to the Planning Commission to confirm the proposed location conforms with zoning. 110). 120). 140). 130). 160). 170).

Violations & Fines

Chapter 5.32 sets no standalone penalty, so violations fall under the code's general misdemeanor clause, County Code § 1.08.010(a): any violation of a mandatory Code requirement is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment in the County jail for up to six months, or both. The Sheriff can also seize unlicensed inventory in the course of an investigation, and the License Board can deny or decline to renew a license based on the Sheriff's and District Attorney's character reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this license apply anywhere in San Mateo County?
No. County Code § 5.04.020 limits county business licenses, including the pawnbroker license, to the unincorporated areas of the county. Redwood City, San Mateo, Daly City, and the other incorporated cities each administer their own pawnbroker or secondhand dealer licensing under their own municipal codes.
How long must a pawnshop hold items before reselling them?
At least 15 days from the date of purchase or acquisition, per § 5.32.120. During that hold, all junk, pawned goods, and secondhand goods must be shown to any Sheriff, police officer, or peace officer on demand and cannot be concealed.
Can a pawnbroker buy from a minor?
Only with the minor's parent or guardian's signed written consent for that specific transaction, per § 5.32.150. The dealer must retain the signed consent as long as the property stays in their possession and produce it on demand to any peace officer; buying from an intoxicated person is barred outright.
What records must a licensed dealer keep?
A bound, ink-written book logging every purchase or sale: item description, date, price paid, the other party's name and address, their signature, and identifying marks on the item, per § 5.32.110. The book must stay open to inspection by any Sheriff or peace officer during ordinary business hours.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Mateo County

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All San Mateo County rules

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