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

Section 605.820 requires anyone operating a pawnshop in St. Peters to hold a license issued under this Section. To qualify, an applicant must be of good moral character, have at least fifty thousand dollars in net assets readily available for use in the pawnshop business for each licensed location, and show that the pawnshop will operate lawfully within Sections 367.011 to 367.060, RSMo. The City can also refuse a license to anyone with a felony, misdemeanor or ordinance violation conviction directly related to pawnbroking, or who is otherwise unfit for the license.

If the City cannot verify net assets on its own, it may require an independent certified public accountant's review of the applicant's balance sheet. Every application, whether for a new license, a transfer, or a change in ownership, must be under oath and include a criminal history record check no more than six months old; Section 605.825 sends that application to the Chief of Police for a good moral character recommendation. Section 605.820(D) requires each applicant to file a $5,000 surety bond for each license with a surety company qualified to do business in Missouri, conditioned on complying with Sections 367.011 to 367.060, RSMo.

Section 605.820(F) bars issuing a new pawnshop license for a location within one-half mile of an excursion gambling boat dock or a pending gambling boat application, unless the pawnshop's license predates May 20, 1994. Section 605.830 requires a separate license for each pawnshop location, and Section 605.845 requires every pawnbroker to keep a register of loans and purchases, including the pledgor's identification and a description of the pledged property, and to report certain used-goods purchases to the leadsonline.com database.