Rochester, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Chapter 80 makes the Chief of Police the licensing authority for "collateral loan brokers as defined in Article 5 of the New York State General Business Law," locally called pawnbrokers, under § 80-1. Licenses run on a fixed calendar, expiring every May 31 regardless of issue date (§ 80-2), and cost $350 a year, with a $10 fee to replace a lost license (§ 80-3). (until midnight on Saturdays), never on Sunday. Since a 2012 ordinance (§ 80-6), covered pawnbrokers must upload reportable transactions electronically to the Police Department's reporting service by close of business each day; a pawnbroker at fault for a failed upload is charged a $10-per-day reporting-failure fee until fixed.

The Chief of Police can deny, condition or refuse to renew a license for noncompliance or misrepresentation (§ 80-10), and can inspect a pawnbroker's records and stock on the premises during business hours (§ 80-11). General business-licensing violations under Chapter 68 apply to pawnbrokers too, punishable under § 68-15 by a fine up to $150, up to 15 days in jail, or a civil penalty of $50 to $500.