Providence, RI Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $100 annually
- Issuing authority
- Bureau of Licenses
- Transferable
- No: named holder only
- Seller ID required
- Photo ID + right thumbprint
- Records
- Open to police inspection
Summary
Providence requires anyone operating a pawnbroking business to obtain an annual $100 license from the bureau of licenses before opening, with no exceptions for occasional or informal dealers.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a pawnbroker in the city, unless he first shall have procured a license therefor from the bureau of licenses. ... The sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be the annual charge for each pawnbroker's license.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
Operating as a pawnbroker in Providence without a license is unlawful under Sec. 14-155, and the bureau of licenses issues one only after payment of a $100 annual fee (Sec. 14-156). The license must be posted where customers can see it, applies only to the person named on it, and cannot be sold or transferred to a new owner (Sec. 14-158). Breaking any license condition, or any other Code provision, exposes the licensee to revocation by the bureau of licenses at any time (Sec. 14-159). Pawnbrokers must also record each seller's photo ID and a right-thumb print for every transaction (Sec. 14-161).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license violates Sec. 14-155; licensed pawnbrokers who break license conditions, skip recordkeeping, or violate other Code sections face license revocation by the bureau of licenses at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my pawnbroker license to a new owner?
What must a Providence pawnbroker collect from sellers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
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Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle pawnbrokers.