Portsmouth, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Chapter 18, Article I of the City Code, Sec. 18-2, requires every pawnbroker to keep an accurate, legible record at the place of business of each loan or resale transaction, entered at the time it occurs. The record must include a description and serial number of the item, the date, time, and place, the amount loaned or paid, the interest rate, an itemized list of fees charged, the seller's full name, address, phone number, driver's license or other ID number plus physical description, verification of a government-issued ID with the type and issuing agency recorded, the loan's terms and duration, and all other relevant facts.

Electronic records are allowed if retained at least one year and made available to law enforcement on request. Sec. 18-2(c) requires a daily report of every item pawned, pledged, or sold that day, filed with the chief of police by noon the following day, either in writing or electronically through a method the department approves. Sec. 1 requires every pawnbroker and employee to admit the chief of police or a designee to the premises during business hours to examine required records and search for and take possession of any item believed missing or stolen, though police must first issue the pawnbroker a receipt.

Sec. 18-4 separately bars any pawnbroker, junk dealer, or secondhand dealer from acquiring goods from anyone under 18, or from a seller believed not to be the item's true owner absent written, authenticated authorization. 1-4000 et seq.