Salt Lake City, UT Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Yes, before operating
- Bond required
- $5,000 corporate surety bond
- Item hold period
- 30 days before disposal
- Business hours
- 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (later Saturdays)
- Records access
- Available to police anytime
Summary
Salt Lake City requires a city license before anyone can operate as a pawnbroker, backed by a $5,000 bond and strict recordkeeping rules enforced by the police department.
It is unlawful for any person to carry on the business of pawnbroker without previously having obtained a license to operate as a pawnbroker in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 5.48 makes it unlawful to carry on the business of pawnbroker without a license issued under the chapter. Applicants must post a $5,000 corporate surety bond conditioned on following the city's pawnbroker ordinances before a license issues. Licensees must log every item pawned or sold, including a photo-ID number, fingerprint, and signature of the person transacting, and must hold received items 30 days before disposal so police can inspect them. Shops may not open before 7:00 AM or after 7:00 PM, except until 11:00 PM on Saturdays and pre-holiday days.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, refusing police access to the required record book, or disposing of pawned items before the 30-day hold expires is unlawful under Chapter 5.48.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Salt Lake City require a pawnbroker license?
How long must a pawnbroker hold an item before selling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle pawnbrokers.