Santa Clara, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting authority
- Chief of Police, § 5.30.030
- Fingerprint check
- California DOJ background review
- Application
- CPA-reviewed financial statement required
- Renewal cycle
- Every two years, § 5.30.090
- Transferability
- Permit non-assignable, § 5.30.080
- Denial appeal
- Chapter 2.115 SCCC procedure
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
Santa Clara requires anyone running a pawnbroker business to hold a permit from the Chief of Police before opening, under City Code § 5.30.030. Applicants submit fingerprints for a California Department of Justice background check and a CPA-reviewed financial statement, then pay a DOJ investigation fee plus a City processing fee. The Chief of Police can deny, suspend or revoke a permit for fraud or a property-crime conviction.
"Pawnbroker" is every person engaged in the business of receiving goods, including motor vehicles, in pledge as security for a loan pursuant to Section 21000 of the Financial Code, as amended from time to time. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer within the city limits without first obtaining a permit issued by the Chief of Police. A permit shall be issued to each pawnbroker and secondhand dealer after their application is approved by the Chief of Police and the Department of Justice.
Full Breakdown
030). 010 exempts a permitted pawnbroker from the separate secondhand dealer permit under Business and Professions Code §§ 21641-21642 for pawn transactions, but a pawnbroker who also buys, sells or takes goods on consignment as a secondhand dealer must still comply with the secondhand dealer laws. 040, including a financial statement reviewed and signed by a licensed CPA. 050, the Chief of Police investigates the application and forwards fingerprints to the California Department of Justice. 115 SCCC. 090 requires the permit to be renewed every other year. 080; doing so voids the permit automatically. 130).
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required permit, or accepting goods "from any person who is in an intoxicated condition or from any suspected thief... or a suspected or known receiver of stolen property" under § 5.30.110, supports permit denial or revocation and is punishable citywide under § 1.05.070 SCCC: up to a $1,000 fine, six months in County jail, or both, as a misdemeanor at the City Attorney's discretion, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a pawnbroker permit and a secondhand dealer permit in Santa Clara?
What can get a pawnbroker permit denied in Santa Clara?
How often does a Santa Clara pawnbroker permit need renewal?
Can I sell my pawnshop's permit to a new owner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pawnbrokers in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle pawnbrokers.