Norfolk, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Monthly interest cap, loans <=$25
- 10 percent
- Monthly interest cap, $25-$100 loans
- 7 percent
- Monthly interest cap, loans >=$100
- 5 percent
- Storage fee cap
- 5 percent of amount loaned, monthly
- Minimum hold before resale
- 30 days plus 15-day grace period
- Daily report deadline
- Noon the following business day
Summary
Norfolk pawnbrokers hold a city-issued license that can be revoked on conviction for violating Chapter 38, must keep detailed daily transaction records, and are capped at interest rates from five to ten percent monthly depending on loan size.
In addition to any penalty imposed, upon conviction of any pawnbroker, junk dealer, antique dealer or dealer in secondhand clothing, furniture, appliances and similar articles of a violation of this article, the officer who issued the license to such offender may, in his discretion, revoke the same.
(Code 1958, § 42-8; Ord. No. 29,860, § 2, 3-20-79; Ord. No. 39,740, § 1, 10-26-99)
Cross reference— Licenses, § 24-25 et seq.; similar provisions relative to precious metals dealers, § 38-84.
Sec. 38-2.1. - Pawnbrokers and junk, antique and secondhand dealers to examine identifying credentials of persons from whom articles received. It shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer, antique dealer or dealer in secondhand clothing, furniture, appliances and similar articles to take in pawn, buy or exchange any article prior to examining the identifying credentials of the person pawning, selling or exchanging the article.
(Ord. No. 29,860, § 1, 3-20-79)
Cross reference— Similar provisions relative to precious metals and gem dealers, § 38-93.
Sec. 38-2.2. - Pawnbrokers or junk, antique or secondhand dealers receiving articles from minors.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 38 of the Norfolk Code regulates pawnbrokers alongside junk, antique, and secondhand dealers. Section 38-1(c) defines a pawnbroker as any person who lends money on the pledge and possession of tangible personal property, or who buys personal property on condition of selling it back at a stipulated price. Section 38-2 makes any violation of the article grounds for the licensing officer to revoke a pawnbroker's license upon conviction, in addition to any other penalty imposed. Every pawnbroker must keep an accurate daily record of each loan under Sec.
38-3, including the pledged item's description and serial number, the amount loaned, the interest rate, all fees itemized, and the pledgor's identification details, and must file a daily report with the chief of police by noon the following day under Sec. 38-4. 2(2) caps interest at ten percent per month on loans of twenty-five dollars or less, seven percent per month on loans between twenty-five and one hundred dollars, and five percent per month on loans of one hundred dollars or more, and bars splitting a loan to increase the effective rate.
A pawnbroker may add a monthly storage fee up to five percent of the amount loaned under Sec. 38-5(c). Before selling a pawned item, Sec. 2(1) requires the pawnbroker to hold it for the loan's minimum term (never less than thirty days) plus a fifteen-day grace period. Pawnbrokers must also admit the chief of police or other law enforcement to their place of business during regular hours to examine records or search for reported stolen property, under Sec. 38-6.
Violations & Fines
A pawnbroker convicted of violating Chapter 38 can have the pawnbroker license revoked at the discretion of the officer who issued it, on top of any court-imposed penalty (Sec. 38-2). Because pawnbrokers are licensed, a Chapter 38 violation is also treated as a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, exposing the pawnbroker to that Act's separate enforcement provisions (Sec. 38-1(b)). Absent a more specific penalty, violations of the chapter are Class 4 misdemeanors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Norfolk revoke a pawnbroker's license?
How much interest can a Norfolk pawnbroker charge?
How long must a pawnbroker hold an item before selling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
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