Gaston County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Article V of Chapter 10 of the Gaston County Code of Ordinances licenses pawnbrokers operating outside a municipality's corporate limits; pawnshops inside Gastonia, Belmont, or the county's other towns are licensed by those cities instead (§ 10-124(c)). Section 10-123 makes it unlawful to establish or conduct a pawnbroker business without a county license. 00 processing fee, must show good moral character, and must not have a felony conviction within the last ten years, backed by an affidavit and a certificate from the police chief, sheriff, or the State Bureau of Investigation (§ 10-124).

Every pawn transaction must be recorded on a numbered ticket showing the pledgor's name, address, phone number, date of birth, and a description of the property and identification presented, and the record stays open to inspection by the chief of police during regular business hours (§ 10-125). 00 thereafter (§ 10-126). A pawn contract runs at least 30 days, and unredeemed goods become sellable once 60 days pass the maturity date with no further notice required (§ 10-127). Pawnbrokers may not accept a pledge from anyone under 18, may not take goods known to be stolen, must hold goods at least 48 hours before resale, may run only one shop per license, and may not take a mobile home, RV, or motor vehicle other than a motorcycle as security (§ 10-128). 00 bond payable to the county (§ 10-130).