Sarasota, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual tax
- $419.03 (Sec. 19-11(a)(41))
- Tax year
- October 1 to September 30
- Due date
- September 30 annually
- Zoning inspection fee
- $50.00, initial application only
- Late penalty cap
- 25% of the tax
- Transfer fee
- 10% of tax, $3-$25
- Uncured 150-day penalty
- Civil action, up to $250
Summary
A pawnbroker doing business inside the City of Sarasota must hold a local business tax receipt in the "Pawn brokers" classification, which carries an annual tax of $419.03 under City Code § 19-11(a)(41), on top of the same application, due-date and penalty rules that apply to every other taxed business in Chapter 19.
Sec. 19-11. - Local business tax schedule. (a)The local business tax amounts, which shall be paid by every person engaging in or managing businesses, professions or occupations for which a local business tax receipt is required are hereby fixed as follows: BUSINESS TAX SCHEDULE [...] (41)Pawn brokers .....419.03 [...]
Sec. 19-3. - Engaging in business without local business tax receipt. (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to carry on or engage in any business, occupation or profession prescribed and designated in section 19-11 without having first paid the local business tax as provided in such section and having complied with the terms of such local business tax receipt as provided in this chapter. Any person engaging in or managing any business, occupation or profession without first having paid for and obtained a local business tax receipt as required hereunder shall be subject to the penalties of section 1-11 in addition to a penalty of twenty-five (25) percent of the local business tax determined to be due.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Zoning: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 19-1 levies the local business tax on any person maintaining a permanent business location in the City of Sarasota, running each October 1 through September 30, and Sec. 03 a year, separate from the general merchant and finance-company categories in the same schedule. A pawnbroker applies to the building director under Sec. 19-4, supplying the ownership, trade-name and federal employer identification or social security information Sec. 19-5 requires, and under Sec. 19-6 must present to the city all credentials establishing that it is qualified under any federal or state law that regulates the business before the city will issue the receipt.
The tax receipt is sold beginning July 1, is due September 30 (Sec. 00 zoning inspection fee on the initial application. A pawnbroker operating at more than one City of Sarasota location needs a separate receipt for each address under Sec. 00), under Sec. 19-8.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pawn business without first paying the tax and obtaining the receipt is unlawful under Sec. 19-3(a), triggering the general penalties of Sec. 1-11 plus a 25 percent penalty on the tax determined due. Sec. 19-2(a) adds a delinquency penalty of up to 10 percent for October plus 5 percent for each additional month the receipt goes unrenewed, capped at 25 percent of the tax. Under Sec. 19-3(b), a pawnbroker that still has not paid within 150 days of the initial notice of tax due faces civil action for court costs, attorney's fees, administrative costs, and a penalty of up to $250.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the annual pawnbroker tax receipt in the City of Sarasota?
What happens if a City of Sarasota pawnbroker lets its local business tax receipt lapse?
Does a City of Sarasota pawnbroker need a separate tax receipt for each store location?
Can a City of Sarasota pawnbroker's tax receipt be sold with the business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota
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