Saint Paul, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Section 344.01 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code bars anyone from carrying on the pawnbroker trade without a city license, and a license can never be transferred between locations or owners. Before licensing, § 344.03(a) requires the police chief to investigate the applicant and bars anyone previously convicted of theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, or a controlled-substance sale from holding a license. Applicants must also post a $5,000 surety bond, approved by the city attorney, conditioned on the licensee following the pawnbroking ordinances and accounting for goods that come into their possession (§ 344.03(b)).

Once licensed, § 344.04 imposes heavy recordkeeping: every reportable transaction must be logged with the item's description, the seller's name, date of birth, address, and a physical description, plus a photocopy of government ID, transmitted to police daily through the Automated Pawn System (APS) via modem, with a color photo or video of the customer and any unnumbered item. Records must be kept at least three years, and photos at least 90 days. A pledger has a minimum 90-day redemption period from the transaction date before pledged goods can be forfeited and sold (§ 344.04(j)-(k)), and purchased items can't be resold or transferred for 30 days (§ 344.04(m)).

Licensees may not operate between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., cannot receive goods from anyone under 18 or intoxicated, and must post a four-square-foot sign listing customer requirements (§§ 344.04(q), 344.05). Any violation of Chapter 344 is a misdemeanor under § 344.06.