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Reading, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Annual license tax
$400 per year
Issuing office
Finance Director
License expires
December 31 annually
Max penalty
$600 fine, 30 days jail

Summary

Reading levies an annual $400 municipal license tax on every pawnbroker operating in the city, collected by the Finance Director under the License Tax Ordinance before a pawnbroker can lawfully open for business.

In addition to all other taxes levied and collected by the City, license taxes in the amounts as set by ordinance and provided in Chapter 212, Fees, are hereby levied for general revenue purposes upon every person conducting or engaging in any of the hereinafter mentioned businesses or occupations... B. Pawnbrokers, each, per year.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-8: Current through August 10, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Under Reading's License Tax Ordinance (Code § 339-103), pawnbrokers are one of the enumerated businesses subject to the city's annual license tax, currently set at $400 per year per the Fee Schedule (§ 212-104). The Finance Director issues the license as a receipt for payment of the tax (§ 339-105), and the license must be publicly posted at the place of business before the pawnbroker operates (§ 339-106) and renewed by December 31 each year, with no proration (§ 339-107). This city tax is separate from state licensing required under the Pennsylvania Pawnbrokers License Act.

Violations & Fines

Conducting a pawnbroker business without paying the annual license tax or posting the license is a summary offense punishable by a fine up to $600 plus costs, or up to 30 days in jail for nonpayment (§ 339-111).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Reading require a separate pawnbroker license from the state?
Yes. Reading's $400 license tax under § 339-103 is a city requirement in addition to state licensing under the Pennsylvania Pawnbrokers License Act, 63 P.S. § 281-1 et seq.
Can a Reading pawnbroker license be prorated for a partial year?
No, § 339-107 requires the full annual license tax regardless of when in the year the license is issued.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Reading

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All Reading rules

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