Pasco, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

010 defines a pawnbroker as anyone engaged, wholly or in part, in loaning money on the security of pledges of personal property, or in deposits or conditional sales of personal property, or the purchase or sale of personal property. A loan term under the chapter runs 30 days including the date of the loan. 35 PMC. 030 additionally requires a pawnbroker to maintain a fixed place of business within the City or the State of Washington, a requirement that does not apply the same way to secondhand dealers.

050. 080 requires that property bought or received by a pawnbroker not be removed from the place of business, except when redeemed by or returned to the owner, until 30 days after receipt, and it must be open to inspection by any commissioned law enforcement officer during ordinary business hours. 060 by reference for interest rates and fees on pledged property. 110 is the core sale-limitation rule: a pawnbroker cannot sell pledged property until both the 30-day loan term and a 60-day grace period have run, a combined 90 days; if the item is not redeemed within that 90-day window, the pawnbroker takes full right, title, and interest to it and owes the pledgor nothing further from any resale.

Every pawn transaction must be documented in writing, with a copy to the pledgor stating the loan term, due date, and the pledgor's right to redeem within 60 days after the loan term expires.