Pawnbrokers in Saint Paul license under Legislative Code Chapter 290 and must report every transaction daily to the Automated Pawn System, holding pledged goods at minimum 30 days for police investigation.
Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapter 290 requires every pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, and precious-metal buyer to license through the Department of Safety and Inspections. Daily transaction reports must upload to the multi-jurisdictional Automated Pawn System (APS) operated regionally with Minneapolis and other Minnesota cities, providing SPPD investigators access to stolen-property leads. Pledged items are held minimum 30 days before resale or forfeiture. Customers must show government photo ID for every transaction. Owners and key employees pass background checks, and zoning typically confines pawnshops to commercial districts. Maximum interest rates are set under Minn. Stat. Section 325J.
Failure to report or hold goods triggers license suspension, fines up to $2,000 per transaction, and SPPD criminal investigation for receiving stolen property if items are sold prematurely.
See how Saint Paul's pawnbrokers rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.