Philadelphia, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Philadelphia Code Section 9-603 requires anyone acting as a pawnbroker to hold a license from the Department of Licenses and Inspections for each location, on top of state licensure under the 1937 Pawnbrokers License Act. The annual city license fee is $200 per location, with up to $400 more allowed to cover the mandatory internet-accessible electronic inventory tracking system. Pawnbrokers cannot transact business on Sundays and can only accept pledges or process redemptions between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays (until 9 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday). Every pledged or purchased item must be held for at least 90 days, kept segregated from sale inventory, and made available to police for inspection without a warrant.