Maricopa County, AZ Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
- New license fee
- $1,000 (ARS §44-1629(A))
- Annual renewal fee
- $500, due January 31
- Late renewal penalty
- 10% of the fee
- Unlicensed operation penalty
- Class 6 felony
- Felony lookback bar
- 5 years for theft/fraud felonies
Summary
No one may run a pawnshop in Maricopa County without a license issued by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. State law sets the licensing process, background checks, and fees the Sheriff administers county by county, with a $1,000 new-license fee and felony lookback bars.
A. A person shall not act as a pawnbroker until licensed by the sheriff of the county in which the person regularly conducts business. B. A pawnbroker shall obtain a separate license for each pawnshop owned by that pawnbroker. C. A pawnbroker license may not be sold or transferred without the approval of the sheriff or the sheriff's designee. D. A pawnbroker shall not conduct business at a location other than a licensed location except for firearms transactions that are permitted by a federally licensed firearms dealer at an organized gun show. ... J. A person shall not use the word "pawn", "pawnshop" or "pawnbroker" in its business name, on any sign or in any advertisement unless the person is licensed as a pawnbroker pursuant to this article.
Full Breakdown
Arizona Revised Statutes Title 44, Chapter 12 puts pawnbroker licensing in the hands of the county sheriff, not a city clerk or the state banking department. Under ARS §44-1627, "A person shall not act as a pawnbroker until licensed by the sheriff of the county in which the person regularly conducts business," and a separate license is required for each pawnshop location a pawnbroker owns. Licenses cannot be sold or transferred without the Sheriff's approval, and business may not be conducted at an unlicensed location except firearms sales by a federally licensed dealer at an organized gun show.
Every owner, partner, or corporate agent must be an Arizona resident, and anyone with an interest in the shop must submit fingerprints and a fee for a state and federal criminal history check through the Department of Public Safety. The Sheriff must refuse or decline to renew a license for anyone convicted within the past five years of a felony involving trafficking in stolen property, fraud, forgery, theft, extortion, or moral turpitude, and must refuse anyone who has violated a prior pawnbroker license within the past year.
A corporation must disclose any officer, director, or 10%-plus shareholder to the Sheriff. Using the words "pawn," "pawnshop," or "pawnbroker" in a business name, sign, or ad without holding the license is itself a violation. Fees under ARS §44-1629 run $1,000 for a new application and $500 annually thereafter, due by January 31, with a 10% late penalty for renewals paid more than 30 days after they are due.
Violations & Fines
Acting as a pawnbroker without a Sheriff-issued license, or violating any part of §44-1627 (unlicensed operation, unapproved transfer, unlicensed location, unreported ownership interest), is a class 6 felony under ARS §44-1631(D). Knowingly making false statements or material misrepresentations on a license application is grounds for outright denial. Missing the January 31 annual renewal deadline by more than 30 days adds a 10% penalty on top of the $500 renewal fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues a pawnbroker license in Maricopa County?
How much does a Maricopa County pawnbroker license cost?
Can someone with a felony record get a pawnbroker license?
Can I call my shop a "pawn shop" without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
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