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Revere, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

Key Facts

License cap: 1 per 10,000 residents
Required bond: $300 with two sureties
License term: May 1 to April 30
Police inspection frequency: At least every 45 days
Standard holding period: 4 months (1 month if perishable)
Licensing authority: Revere Licensing Commission

Summary

Revere caps pawnbroker licenses at one for every 10,000 residents and runs each license from May 1 to April 30. Every licensee must post a $300 bond and comply with Chapter 140 of the General Laws in addition to the city's licensing commission rules under Municipal Code Chapter 5.20.

Any suitable person complying with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 140 of the General Laws may be licensed to set up and maintain the business of a pawnbroker within the city. No person shall set up or maintain a business of a pawnbroker without complying with such provisions. ... Licenses granted under this chapter shall be restricted to one to each ten thousand residents of the city, or major part thereof, as of the latest census. ... The license required by this chapter shall commence on May 1st and shall expire on April 30th next following, unless sooner revoked.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4804778; v14 updated 2026-05-04).

Full Breakdown

020 gives the licensing commission exclusive authority to grant, suspend, or revoke that license. 030 restricts the number of pawnbroker licenses citywide to one for every 10,000 residents, or major part thereof, based on the latest census, making Revere's pawnbroker licenses a limited, competitively awarded pool rather than an as-of-right permit. 060. 090). 100). 120).

Violations & Fines

Operating as a pawnbroker in Revere without a license, or continuing business after license revocation, is punished under Section 75 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws per Section 5.20.070. Refusing to admit an inspecting officer, or failing to exhibit articles, books, or inventories on demand during the police chief's mandatory 45-day inspections, is punishable under either the General Laws or this chapter, whichever provides the greater penalty, per Section 5.20.130.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pawnbroker licenses does Revere issue?

Section 5.20.030 restricts pawnbroker licenses to one for every 10,000 residents of the city, or major part thereof, based on the latest census, so the number of licenses is capped rather than open to any qualifying applicant.

When does a Revere pawnbroker license expire?

Section 5.20.060 sets every license to commence on May 1 and expire the following April 30 unless it is revoked sooner by the licensing commission, which under Section 5.20.020 has exclusive authority over granting, suspending, and revoking pawnbroker licenses.

How long must a Revere pawnbroker hold a pawned item before selling it?

Section 5.20.100 requires items to be held at least four months from the date of deposit, or one month if perishable, before the pawnbroker can sell at public auction, and items worth more than $25 cannot be disposed of any other way.

How often does Revere inspect pawnshops?

Section 5.20.120 requires the chief of police, or a designated subordinate, to inspect every pawnshop in the city at least once every 45 days and to report any violations of the pawnbroker chapter or Chapter 140 of the General Laws to the licensing commission.

Sources & Official References

[1]Revere Municipal Code (eCode360)

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