Raleigh, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

City Code § 12-2102 makes it unlawful to establish or operate a pawnbroker business in Raleigh without first applying for and being granted a license. The sworn application goes to the Revenue Collector and must include the owner's name and address (or, for a firm or corporation, the names of partners or officers), the business name and address, a statement of the net assets or capital to be used, verified by an accountant's unaudited statement, an affidavit that the applicant has no felony conviction, and a certificate from the Chief of Police, County Sheriff, or SBI confirming that.

The Revenue Collector forwards the application to Police for an investigative report, Inspections for a zoning/development compliance check, and Fire for a fire-protection review, each with up to 30 days to report back before the application reaches the Council's printed agenda. S. Chapter 91A, no misstatements, no felony conviction in the prior ten years, adequate parking/traffic, and a favorable Police Department recommendation. Once approved, the Revenue Collector issues the license on payment of a $275 annual fee, renewable yearly, and the licensee must file a $5,000 bond with two sureties (or a licensed surety company) with the City Clerk guaranteeing faithful performance; the City can sue on the bond, and judgment creditors left unsatisfied can sue on it directly. S. 91A-1-22 after certified-mail notice and a hearing where the licensee can appear with counsel and cross-examine witnesses.