Pasadena, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Pawnbroker license fee
- $50 per establishment, 1-year term
- Police reports due
- every Monday and Thursday before 10 a.m.
- Item hold period
- 15 days before sale or disposal
- License revocation bar
- no reissuance for 12 months
- Violation penalty
- up to $500 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Pasadena pawnbrokers need a $50 annual license certificate under Municipal Code Chapter 5.56, and must report every pledged or purchased item to the police twice a week and hold each item unaltered for 15 days before resale.
5.56.020 - License—Required. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer or junk collector without a license certificate therefor issued as herein provided. ... Upon filing of an application for a license to act as a pawnbroker, complying with the requirements of this section, and upon the payment of $50.00 for each separate establishment or place of business conducted within the city, the city assessor, tax and license collector shall issue a license certificate authorizing the holder to engage in the business of pawnbroker for a period of 1 year from the date of the license certificate.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
020 bars conducting the pawnbroker business without a license certificate. 16. , listing every item received on deposit, pledge or purchase during the preceding period, the time received, the seller's name and description, the pawn ticket number, and the amount loaned or paid, including any engraved numbers, words, initials or settings on the item. 140 bars selling or otherwise disposing of any pledged or purchased item within 15 days of receipt, and requires it to be kept unaltered and separate from other stock during that hold period.
070 requires a hearing with at least three days' written notice before any revocation. A revoked license cannot be reissued to the same person, firm or corporation for 12 months.
Violations & Fines
Section 5.56.170 makes any violation of Chapter 5.56 a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment in the city jail for not more than six months, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense. Section 5.56.090 separately makes it unlawful to give a fictitious name on any pledge, sale or deposit report required under the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
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