New York pawnbrokers are licensed under General Business Law Article 5 and supervised by the NY State Department of Financial Services on rates, while NYC's DCWP issues a separate Pawnbroker License under Admin Code §20-275 covering recordkeeping, signage, and police reporting.
General Business Law §40 caps pawn loan interest at 4% per month for loans up to $100 and 3% per month above $100, plus storage fees, and requires NYDFS supervision. Layered on top, NYC Admin Code §20-275 to §20-279 require a separate DCWP Pawnbroker License with a $10,000 surety bond, daily transaction reporting through LeadsOnline, and storefront signage. Pawned items face a six-month minimum redemption period before sale, and the NYPD may place a hold if items match stolen-property reports. Auctioneer rules apply when unredeemed goods are sold. Operators must also comply with federal money-services and AML rules.
Unlicensed pawnbroking is a misdemeanor under Admin Code §20-281 and a violation of GBL §40, with fines up to $1,000 per offense; charging above the statutory rate cap is criminal usury under Penal Law §190.40.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
New York, NY
The NYC Noise Code prohibits excessive muffler/exhaust sound from motor vehicles on roads with a 35 mph or lower speed limit - defined by 'plainly audible' d...
New York, NY
The NYC Noise Code restricts air conditioners and other circulation devices: a single device may not exceed 42 decibels measured three feet from the source a...
New York, NY
Under Admin. Code Sec. 24-235, an animal owner may not permit unreasonable animal noise that is plainly audible inside any nearby residential property for 10...
New York, NY
Under Admin. Code Sec. 24-222, construction work is unlawful except on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Limited weekend work (Sat/Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.)...
New York, NY
Under Admin. Code Sec. 24-231, music from a commercial establishment may not exceed 42 dB(A) measured inside any nearby residential dwelling unit, nor 45 dB ...
New York, NY
A vehicle parked or standing in New York City must properly display valid, unobstructed license plates under 34 RCNY 4-08(j), which conforms to NY Vehicle an...
See how New York's pawnbrokers rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.