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Paulding County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
Special Use Permit, Board of Commissioners approval
Review body
Planning Commission recommendation required first
District confirmed
Listed use in B-2 Highway Business District
State law link
Defined per O.C.G.A. § 44-12-130
Parking ratio
1 space per 200 sq ft net floor area

Summary

Paulding County requires a pawnshop to obtain a Special Use Permit before opening, approved by the Board of Commissioners after a Planning Commission recommendation under UDO Section 230-40. In the B-2 Highway Business District, Pawnshops are specifically listed among the uses needing that discretionary approval rather than being permitted by right.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Paulding County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

230-40.01 Requirement of Special Use Permit for Certain Activities. Uses controlled in this Section are prohibited unless an approval for a Special Use Permit has been granted by the Board of Commissioners after a recommendation by the Planning Commission based on requirements of this Section and all other applicable provisions of this UDO...230-40.04 Uses Which Require a Special Use Permit:...Pawnshops

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).

Full Breakdown

04 confirms Pawnshops are a Special Use Permit use specifically within the B-2 Highway Business District. § 41-1-2, whether adequate parking and traffic controls exist, whether hours of operation are addressed, and whether public health, safety or welfare concerns are adversely affected. § 44-12-130. The parking table in Chapter 260 separately requires one parking space per 200 square feet of net floor space for a pawnshop.

Violations & Fines

Opening a pawnshop without first obtaining Board of Commissioners approval of a Special Use Permit under Section 230-40 is a zoning violation, and the permit itself can be revoked or conditioned if the operation later creates the nuisance or public-safety problems the Board is required to screen for under Section 230-40.03. Operating with fewer parking spaces than the one-per-200-square-foot standard is a separate parking violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a pawnshop anywhere in Paulding County?
No. Pawnshops require a Special Use Permit, and the B-2 Highway Business District specifically lists them under Section 210-190.04 as a Special Use Permit use rather than a by-right use. You need Board of Commissioners approval after a Planning Commission recommendation before you can operate.
What does the Board of Commissioners consider before approving a pawnshop permit?
Section 230-40.03 requires the Board to weigh at least 14 factors, such as whether the use will create a nuisance, whether it is compatible with the surrounding area, whether adequate parking and traffic controls exist, and whether public health, safety or welfare concerns are adversely affected, before granting a Special Use Permit.
Does Georgia law define what counts as a pawnbroker in Paulding County?
Yes. The UDO's definition of Pawnbrokers incorporates O.C.G.A. § 44-12-130, describing anyone who lends money against pledged goods or buys personal property on a redemption or repurchase condition. That state definition, not just local zoning, determines who is treated as a pawnbroker under the county's rules.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Paulding County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsSecondhand DealersSome RestrictionsTobacco Retail LicenseSignificant RestrictionsAdult EntertainmentSignificant RestrictionsMassage EstablishmentsSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Paulding County rules

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