Walker County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)

Section 10-208 makes it unlawful to act as a pawnbroker or operate a pawnshop without a current permit. Under § 10-209, the owner applies to the Walker County Sheriff, who has 60 days to approve or deny the application before approval is deemed automatic; the Board of Commissioners sets the annual permit fee on file with the Sheriff's Office. Permits expire automatically at 12:01 a.m. on January 16 each year unless renewed by January 15, and a late renewal draws a 10 percent administrative penalty.

Section 10-211 bars anyone with a felony theft, burglary, robbery or dishonesty conviction, or a nolo contendere plea, within the prior five years from holding a pawnbroker permit, working as an employee, or having an ownership interest, and every employee must clear a Sheriff's Department criminal background check before starting work. Hours are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, under § 10-210. Section 10-212 requires an electronic record of every transaction, including the customer's name, address, description, driver's license number, a photograph, fingerprint of the right index finger, and item description, uploaded daily to the county's automated reporting system and retained for at least four years; any duly authorized law enforcement officer may inspect those records or place a 'police hold' on suspect property.

Section 10-213 requires pledged goods to be held 30 days, and non-pledged purchased goods 7 days, before resale, and § 10-214 bars taking goods from anyone under 18.