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

Sec. 16-1103 requires any person or business engaged in lending money on pledged goods, or buying personal property with a right of buy-back, to hold a valid license under the Chatham County Occupational and Regulatory Tax Ordinance before operating in the unincorporated county, per the definitions of pawnbroker and pawn transaction in Sec. § 44-12-130 et seq. Sec. 16-1104 then imposes detailed recordkeeping: every pawnbroker must log an accurate description of each item pledged or sold, including manufacturer, model and serial number where available, assign each transaction a unique tracking number, verify the seller's government-issued photo ID, record the seller's name, address, race, sex, height, weight, driver's license number and date of birth, photograph the seller's face and the item at the time of transaction, and take the seller's right index fingerprint through an electronic scanner.

Sec. , extending to midnight on Saturdays and the week before Christmas. Sec. 16-1107 requires pledged property to be held for a minimum of 30 days before disposal, unless redeemed sooner under the pawn contract, and lets Chatham County Police place a police hold on any item under investigation, which the pawnbroker must maintain until released.