Wauwatosa, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Wauwatosa Municipal Code §§ 6.55.010, 6.55.020
- License type
- Same secondhand dealer license, no separate pawn license
- State overlay
- Must also comply with Wis. Stat. § 138.10
- Reporting
- Same 24-hour report, daily electronic filing as dealers
- Penalty
- General penalty, Ch. 1.12, plus possible license revocation
Summary
Wauwatosa treats pawnbrokers as a category of secondhand dealer: a pawnbroker must hold the city's secondhand dealer license under Chapter 6.55 and separately comply with the state pawnbroker statute, Wis. Stat. § 138.10, that governs loan terms and pledged-goods handling.
"Pawnbroker" means a person, firm, corporation, partnership or association engaged in the business of lending money on personal property or goods which are pledged as security for the loan on the condition that if the loan is not repaid within a specified period of time the goods used as security may be sold to compensate for nonpayment. ... This term includes, but is not limited to, a pawnbroker as defined below, but does not include a consignment business. ... In addition to the provisions herein, pawnbrokers operating within the city must comply with the provisions of Section 138.10, Wisconsin Statutes.
Full Breakdown
070 that apply to any secondhand dealer. ' Wis. 10 is the state pawnbroker statute governing interest-rate caps, pledge-agreement contents, and redemption rights on pawned goods, so a Wauwatosa pawnbroker is answerable both to the city for the license and reporting regime and to the state for the loan-transaction rules themselves. 10.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.55.120 applies the same penalty to pawnbrokers as any other secondhand dealer: the general penalty provisions of Chapter 1.12 (forfeiture of one to five thousand dollars for a first offense where no other penalty applies) plus possible revocation of the dealer license for a chapter violation; separately, noncompliance with Wis. Stat. § 138.10 exposes a pawnbroker to state enforcement outside the city code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wauwatosa issue a separate pawnbroker license?
What extra rule applies to Wauwatosa pawnbrokers beyond the secondhand dealer license?
Do Wauwatosa pawnbrokers have to report pledged items to police?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wauwatosa
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