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St. Louis, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License
required from the License Collector
Bond
$1,000 annual bond
Hours ban
no pledges 8 p.m.–7 a.m.
License cap
one per 30,000 residents
Register
transactions logged, open to police

Summary

St. Louis requires pawnbrokers to obtain a City license and post a $1,000 bond, bars pledge or pawn transactions between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., and caps licenses at one per 30,000 residents.

No person shall do business as a pawnbroker in the City without having first obtained a license therefor. The license shall conform to those now in use as provided by this chapter, with a form of affidavit attached thereto, which the applicant shall subscribe and make oath that he will faithfully carry out the provisions of this chapter.

Source: Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 367View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11).

Full Breakdown

Anyone doing business as a pawnbroker in St. Louis must first obtain a license from the License Collector under Chapter 8.72, with the application requiring a police officer's endorsement on the applicant's moral character and a camera to photograph every pledgor and item. Licensees must post an annual $1,000 bond, keep a detailed transaction register open to police inspection, and cannot accept pledges from minors or between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Citywide, the number of active pawnbroker licenses is capped at one per 30,000 residents under the most recent Census, and the License Collector can revoke a license after a hearing.

Violations & Fines

Operating as a pawnbroker without a license, or violating registration, bond, hours, or minor-pledge rules, is a licensing violation the License Collector can punish with license revocation after a hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do St. Louis pawnbrokers need a city license?
Yes. Chapter 8.72.020 makes it unlawful to do business as a pawnbroker in the City without first obtaining a license from the License Collector, along with a sworn affidavit to follow the chapter's rules.
Can a St. Louis pawnbroker take pledges from a minor or late at night?
No. City ordinance 8.72.100 bars pledges from minors outright, and 8.72.110 prohibits taking pledges or pawns from anyone between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
How many pawnbroker licenses does St. Louis allow?
Under 8.72.160, the City caps active pawnbroker licenses at one for every 30,000 residents based on the most recent Decennial Census, though existing licenses can be renewed, sold, or transferred.

Sources & Official References

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