O'Fallon, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

100, an applicant must be of good moral character, keep at least fifty thousand dollars in net assets readily available for each licensed pawnshop, and show the business will operate lawfully within the Chapter's purposes; if the City cannot verify the asset figure itself, it can demand a certified public accountant's review of the applicant's books. The application goes under oath to the City and must list every partner, officer, shareholder or director, plus a general liability insurance certificate. It carries an investigation fee of five hundred dollars for a brand-new pawnshop license, dropped to two hundred fifty dollars for a second or additional location under substantially the same ownership, on top of an annual license fee of five hundred dollars.

Each applicant must also file a surety bond, capped at five thousand dollars per license, that runs to the City and to anyone with a claim against the pawnbroker for the licensee's compliance with Chapter 607. A separate license is required for every location; no agent may operate for a pawnbroker anywhere but the licensed address. 110 sends every application to the Chief of Police for a background check, and no license issues to anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor directly related to pawnbroking. A pawnbroker already lawfully operating before the Chapter's 1999 passage is grandfathered and never had to apply for this license.