Paramount, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City Clerk, after Sheriff approval
- Permit application fee
- $10.00
- Daily report
- Buy-form mailed to the Sheriff each business day
- Hold on goods
- 14 days after the report to the Sheriff
- Hold on usable metal
- 21 days for foundries and junk dealers
- Sheriff hold order
- 90 days
- Records kept
- Two years
Summary
In the City of Paramount, California, a pawnbroker must register with the City Clerk, hold a City Clerk permit that the Sheriff has approved, and mail a buy-form to the Sheriff at the close of each business day. Chapter 5.80 adds record-keeping rules and a 14-day hold on goods.
It is unlawful to conduct any of the following businesses, professions, trades or occupations unless the person so owning, managing, conducting or carrying out the business, profession, trade or occupation shall first register with the City Clerk: ... Pawnbrokers. Definitions. 1. "Pawnbroker" means any person engaged in any one or more of the following businesses: a. Pawnbroking. b. Lending money for him or herself or any other person upon personal property, pawns or pledges, in the possession of the lender. c. Purchasing articles of personal property and reselling or agreeing to resell such articles to the vendors or assignees at prices agreed upon at or before the time of such purchase. 2. "Pawnshop" means any room, store, building or other place in which the business of pawnbroker is engaged in, carried on, or conducted.
Full Breakdown
Pawnbroking is regulated in three layers in the City of Paramount. First, § 5.08.010 makes it unlawful to operate as a pawnbroker without first registering with the City Clerk. It defines a pawnbroker as anyone engaged in pawnbroking, lending money on personal property, pawns or pledges in the lender's possession, or buying personal property and reselling or agreeing to resell it to the vendor or assignee at a price agreed at or before the purchase. A pawnshop is any room, store, building or other place where that business is conducted.
Second, § 5.04.130 lists Pawnbrokers among the businesses that need a permit from the City Clerk. The City Clerk will not issue it until the Sheriff has approved the application, and the application fee is $10.00. Under § 5.04.120 the permit is in addition to the license fee, and § 5.04.220 lets the City Council revoke or suspend it.
Third, Chapter 5.80 applies to pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, foundries, oil tool exchanges, junk dealers and auctioneers (§ 5.80.020) and to swap meet operators (§ 5.80.030). At the close of each business day the licensee mails the Sheriff the buy-form listing what was received on deposit, pledged or purchased that day (§ 5.80.040). Sellers furnish positive identification (§ 5.80.050), and the licensee records it, such as a driver's license number, or takes a plain impression print of the seller's right index finger (§ 5.80.060). Licensees keep their copy of the buy-form for two years, and the Sheriff keeps reports for two years (§§ 5.80.070, 5.80.080).
Goods cannot be melted, destroyed, sold or disposed of until 14 days after the report to the Sheriff (§ 5.80.090). A foundry or junk dealer waits 21 days on usable metal (§ 5.80.100). During the hold nothing is cleaned, altered, repaired or painted, and items stay exposed to public view during business hours (§ 5.80.110). The Sheriff can release property or place a hold order of 90 days (§§ 5.80.120, 5.80.130), and nothing leaves the County until the Sheriff has inspected and released it (§ 5.80.140).
Violations & Fines
A violation of the Code is a misdemeanor unless charged as an infraction (§ 1.04.150). A misdemeanor fine can reach the greater of $1,000.00 or the Government Code maximum, with County Jail time possible, and infraction fines run up to $100.00, $200.00 and $500.00 for the first, second and third conviction within a year, subject to the Government Code maximum if higher. Each day is a separate offense. The City Council can revoke or suspend the permit under § 5.04.220.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves a pawnbroker permit in Paramount?
What must a pawnbroker report to the Sheriff?
How long must pawned goods be held?
What identification does a seller have to show?
Can the Sheriff freeze an item?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paramount
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