Sacramento County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Sacramento County Sheriff
- Governing law
- County Code Chapter 4.30
- License denial limited to
- BPC § 21641 convictions
- Daily report deadline
- before 10:00 a.m.
- No-trade hours
- midnight Sat.–7 a.m. Mon.
Summary
Sacramento County requires every pawnbroker in the unincorporated area to hold a special business license issued by the Sheriff under County Code Chapter 4.30 before lending money on pledged property or operating a pawnshop.
It is unlawful for any person to operate or conduct the business of pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, secondhand watch dealer, junk dealer or junk collector, unless under and by authority of a valid, unexpired and unrevoked special business license issued pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4.10 and this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection c of Section 4.10.040 and Section 4.10.100, the Sheriff shall not deny a special business license for the business of pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk collector or junk dealer on grounds enumerated by Section 4.10.040(c) unless one or more of the persons identified in Section 4.10.040(c) has been convicted of an offense described by Section 21641 of the Business and Professions Code. A license shall not be revoked on grounds prescribed by subsection (b) of Section 4.10.135 unless one or more of the persons identified by Section 4.10.040(c) has been convicted of an offense described by Section 21641 of the Business and Professions Code. (SCC 1505 § 2, 2011)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Under County Code § 4.30.010, it is unlawful to operate as a pawnbroker in unincorporated Sacramento County without a valid, unexpired special business license issued under Chapter 4.10 and Chapter 4.30. The Sheriff administers licensing and cannot deny, suspend, or revoke a pawnbroker's license on general grounds unless the applicant has a conviction under Business and Professions Code § 21641. Licensed pawnbrokers must report every pledge or purchase to the Sheriff daily before 10 a.m. (§ 4.30.025) and may not accept pledges or loan money between midnight Saturday and 7 a.m. Monday, or after 7 p.m. on other nights (§ 4.30.070).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or violating chapter requirements, is a misdemeanor under § 4.30.100 and grounds for the Sheriff to deny, suspend, or revoke the special business license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county license to open a pawnshop in unincorporated Sacramento County?
Can the Sheriff deny my pawnbroker license for any past offense?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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