Rockford, IL Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

City code folds pawnbrokers into its secondhand-dealer licensing scheme: Sec. 23-149 makes it unlawful to buy or sell secondhand goods without a license, and Sec. 23-147 names pawnbrokers specifically as secondhand dealers subject to the city's enhanced license fee (versus the standard fee for dealers mainly selling exempt categories like furniture or antiques). Sec. 23-150 requires every secondhand dealer, including pawnbrokers, to keep a permanent record of each item bought or sold, plus the counterparty's name and residence, transmitted to the Rockford Police Department as the chief of police directs. Sec. 23-151 requires reporting any item reasonably believed stolen to police on demand.