Martin County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Sec. 123.17, 123.18.A, Martin County Code
- Dual-license bar
- State small-loan licensees cannot pawnbroke
- Reporting duty
- Monthly report to Sheriff
- Record inspection
- Open to police/peace officers anytime
- Penalty class
- Second-degree misdemeanor
Summary
Martin County pawnbrokers must keep a complete transaction record open to police inspection and file monthly reports with the Sheriff on state-prescribed forms. A person licensed to make small loans under state law cannot also act as a pawnbroker under Sec. 123.17 and 123.18.A.
123.17.A. No person licensed to engage in the small loan business under the provisions of F.S. ch. 516 shall act as a pawnbroker. 123.17.B. Pawnbrokers shall keep a complete and true record of all transactions, showing from whom each article of their stock was purchased or pledged, the date of the transaction and the date and to whom each article was sold, which record shall at all times be subject to the inspection of all police or peace officers. ... 123.18.A. Every person engaged in the business of pawnbrokers, licensed under section 123.17, shall make monthly reports to the Sheriff of the county in which such business is operated of the information required to be maintained by such pawnbrokers under the provisions of section 123.17, and any person failing to make such report shall be subject to the penalty provided in this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 | Land Development Regulations: Supplement 62).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ch. 516 from also acting as a pawnbroker, keeping the two businesses legally separate. Every pawnbroker must keep a complete and true record of all transactions, showing from whom each article of stock was purchased or pledged, the date of the transaction, and the date and buyer for each item sold; that record must be open to inspection by any police or peace officer at all times. Sec. A layers a reporting duty on top of the recordkeeping: every pawnbroker licensed under Sec. 17 must file monthly reports with the Sheriff of the county where the business operates, covering the same information required in the transaction record, on forms prescribed and furnished by the Department of Law Enforcement.
25 occupational license under Sec. 16 before opening, in addition to satisfying these recordkeeping and reporting duties. The rule traces to the 1974 County Code § 24¾-19 and was carried forward by Ord. No. 464 in 1995.
Violations & Fines
Violating Sec. 123.17's recordkeeping or dual-licensing bar is a second-degree misdemeanor under Sec. 123.17.C, punishable per F.S. §§ 775.082 or 775.083. Failing to file the required monthly report to the Sheriff under Sec. 123.18.A subjects the pawnbroker to the penalty set out in Sec. 123.18, which also applies to the broader failure-to-comply penalty in Sec. 123.18.F for other duties under that section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Martin County small-loan lender also run a pawnshop?
What records must a Martin County pawnbroker keep?
Do Martin County pawnbrokers report to the Sheriff?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Martin County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Martin County to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
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