St. George, UT Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Bond required
- at least $5,000
- Item hold period
- 30 days before disposal
- Business hours limit
- 7:00 AM-7:00 PM (11 PM Sat.)
- Minimum age to sell items
- 18 years old
- Enforcing agency
- St. George Police Department
Summary
St. George requires anyone running a pawnbroker, secondhand, or precious-metals/gem dealing business to hold a city license, post a $5,000 bond, and follow strict recordkeeping and hold rules enforced by the police department.
Any person engaged in the business of a pawnbroker, swap meet operator, secondhand dealer, antique dealer, precious metals/gem dealer, or numismatic dealer... shall obtain a license upon the conditions contained in this article... No article or goods taken in by a licensee hereunder shall be disposed of or altered within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of receiving such items, unless expressly permitted to do so by the police department...
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-062, passed August 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City code makes it unlawful to operate as a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, antique dealer, or precious metals/gem dealer without a license. Licensees must log every transaction with an ID-based numerical identifier and fingerprint, hold received items 30 days before disposal or alteration, post a bond of at least $5,000, and may not open before 7:00 AM or after 7:00 PM (11:00 PM on Saturdays and pre-holiday days). Items may not be taken from anyone under 18 or who is intoxicated.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, failing to keep required transaction records, disposing of an item before the 30-day hold expires, or taking goods from a minor or intoxicated person is unlawful; repeat violations let the police chief reclassify the business as an 'enforcement problem' and impose a weekly license fee instead of the standard rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. George require a special license for pawnbrokers?
How long must a St. George pawnshop hold an item before selling it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. George
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