Westminster, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $35 per applicant
- Report deadline
- By noon the next day
- Standard hold period
- 30 days on reported property
- Police hold extension
- Up to 90 days if suspected stolen
- Minor transactions
- Barred without parent/guardian written consent
Summary
Westminster requires anyone running a pawnbroker, used-merchandise-dealer, or auctioneer business to get a police-vetted permit before opening. The Chief of Police fingerprints and photographs every applicant and can deny the permit for a felony conviction or crime tied to the trade.
No person shall conduct business as a pawnbroker, used merchandise dealer, or auctioneer within the city without first obtaining a proper permit therefor, as provided in this chapter or as provided by state law. The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to a business which is licensed pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 21640, et. seq.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
52 of the Westminster Municipal Code makes it unlawful to "conduct business as a pawnbroker, used merchandise dealer, or auctioneer within the city" without first securing a permit under this chapter or state law, unless the business is already licensed under Business and Professions Code Section 21640 et seq. Applications go to the business license department, which refers them to the Chief of Police for investigation. 040, every applicant is fingerprinted and photographed at their own expense (paying the state's processing fee), and police investigate whether the applicant committed any act that would justify revoking a permit or has a felony or trade-related criminal conviction.
100). 110 bars buying, trading or lending against secondhand property from anyone under eighteen unless a parent or guardian is present and gives written, notarized-style permission attached to the report. 120.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a pawnbroker, used-merchandise dealer or auctioneer without the required permit, or violating the reporting, recordkeeping or minor-transaction rules, exposes the business to the general penalty of Westminster Code Section 1.12.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or six months in county jail, or prosecution as an infraction ($100/$200/$500 for first, second and later offenses) at the city attorney's discretion, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to open a pawnshop in Westminster?
How fast must a pawnbroker report items bought or pawned?
Can Westminster police hold my pawned item longer than 30 days?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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