Merced County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Hold trigger
- Peace officer probable cause
- Maximum hold period
- 90 days
- Release authority
- Court order or sheriff's property section
- Records mailing
- Weekly, to Sheriff's office in Merced
- Resale wait
- 7 days after mailing report
- License requirement
- Same Chapter 6.44 license as secondhand dealers
Summary
Merced County pawnbrokers operate under the same Chapter 6.44 license as secondhand dealers, but face an additional, pawnbroker-specific rule: a peace officer with probable cause can place a 90-day hold on pledged property suspected of being stolen, and the pawnbroker cannot release it during that hold.
Whenever any peace officer has probable cause to believe that property in the possession of a pawnbroker is stolen, he may place a hold on such property for a period not to exceed 90 days. The peace officer shall give the pawnbroker a written notice at the time the hold is placed, describing the item or items to be held. During such period the pawnbroker shall not release or dispose of such property, except pursuant to a court order or upon receipt of a written authorization signed by the clerk or person having charge of the property section for the sheriff's department of which the peace officer placing the hold on the property is a member pursuant to State Code and this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
010). 030). 060: whenever a peace officer has probable cause to believe property in a pawnbroker's possession is stolen, the officer can place a hold on that property for up to 90 days, giving the pawnbroker written notice describing the held items. During the hold the pawnbroker cannot release or dispose of the property except by court order or written authorization from the sheriff's department property section member who imposed it. If that property section determines the item was stolen and authorizes its release to the owner, the owner must receive a statement clarifying that the law neither requires nor prohibits a fee or other condition for surrendering the property, and the pawnbroker is shielded from civil liability for complying with the hold. 070).
Violations & Fines
A pawnbroker who releases or disposes of held property in violation of a peace officer's 90-day hold under Section 6.44.060 faces enforcement action tied to the underlying stolen-property investigation, and a violation of the chapter's license provisions in Sections 6.44.020 or 6.44.030 is a misdemeanor under Section 6.44.050, punished as state law prescribes for first, second, and third offenses of that kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Merced County place a hold on property in a pawnbroker's shop?
Does a Merced County pawnbroker need a separate license from a secondhand dealer?
What records must a Merced County pawnbroker keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced County
California rules heatmap·Compare Merced County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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