Alabama
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Alabama Banking Department
- Governing statute
- Pawnshop Act
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
State law guide
Pawn Shop Laws by State: Licensing and Holding Periods
Pawn shop rules are set state by state, and often city by city. Most states license pawnbrokers through a state financial or consumer agency, and many set a minimum holding period before a pawned item can be sold, most often 30 days. A handful of states, including Alaska, Idaho, Maine and Wyoming, have no state pawnshop statute and leave the rules to cities and counties. Below is the licensing agency, statute and holding period for every state.
If you're buying, a license and a holding period don't mean anyone checked the item you're looking at. Ask for the serial number and check it yourself before you pay.
Updated October 7, 2026
Licensing level
Whether a state agency, a city or county, or both issue the license.
Governing statute
Shown where the source names a specific act or code section.
Holding period
Shown only where the source names one. A blank doesn't mean there is no rule.
Pawn shop holding periods by state
These are the states where our source names a holding period. Other states may set one in regulation or leave it to local ordinances.
| State | Holding period | Licensing authority |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 days minimum | Alabama Banking Department |
| Arizona | 90 days | Department of Financial Institutions |
| Arkansas | 30 days | State Board of Collection Agencies |
| Connecticut | 4 months | Department of Consumer Protection |
| Florida | 30 days | Office of Financial Regulation |
| Indiana | 90 days (4-month redemption) | Department of Financial Institutions |
| Michigan | 3 months minimum | Department of Insurance and Financial Services |
| Nebraska | 30 days minimum | Department of Banking and Finance |
| Nevada | 30 days | Department of Business and Industry |
| New Mexico | 90 days | Financial Institutions Division |
| North Carolina | 30 days minimum | Commissioner of Banks |
| Ohio | 30 days minimum | Division of Financial Institutions |
| Oregon | 60 days minimum | Division of Financial Regulation |
| South Carolina | 30 days | Department of Consumer Affairs |
| Texas | 30 days minimum | Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner |
| Utah | 60 days | Department of Financial Institutions |
| Virginia | 120 days | Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation |
| West Virginia | 30 days minimum | Division of Financial Institutions |
| Wisconsin | 30 days minimum | Department of Financial Institutions |
Pawnshop licensing in all 50 states
Alaska
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- City/borough authorities (e.g. Anchorage)
No state statute; requirements vary by city.
Arizona
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial Institutions
- Governing statute
- ARS Title 44, Chapter 13
- Holding period
- 90 days
Arkansas
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- State Board of Collection Agencies
- Holding period
- 30 days
California
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- State statute plus local permits (e.g. Los Angeles Municipal Code)
- Governing statute
- Civil Code §1800–1812
Colorado
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Division of Banking
Connecticut
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Consumer Protection
- Holding period
- 4 months
Delaware
- Licensing level
- Minimal / none
- Licensing authority
- General business licensing; some local rules
No dedicated state pawnshop statute.
Florida
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Office of Financial Regulation
- Holding period
- 30 days
Unique requirement: numbered preprinted pawn tickets from approved vendors.
Georgia
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- State plus county/city registration
- Governing statute
- OCGA Title 44, Chapter 12
Hawaii
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
- Governing statute
- HRS Chapter 445
Idaho
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- Local authorities
No state statute; secondhand-dealer provisions may apply.
Illinois
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Governing statute
- Pawnbroker Regulation Act
Extensive reporting requirements.
Indiana
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial Institutions
- Holding period
- 90 days (4-month redemption)
Iowa
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Banking Division
Examination and statutory compliance required.
Kansas
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Office of the State Bank Commissioner — Consumer Credit Commissioner, plus city licenses
Kentucky
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial Institutions plus local business licenses
Louisiana
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Office of Financial Institutions, plus parish/municipal licenses
- Governing statute
- Pawnshop Act (RS 37:1781 et seq.)
Maine
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- Local authorities
No full state pawnshop statute; local rules apply.
Maryland
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Commissioner of Financial Regulation
Baltimore City and counties add local licenses.
Massachusetts
- Licensing level
- Local (under state statute)
- Licensing authority
- Municipal licensing authorities
- Governing statute
- MGL Chapter 140, §§70–89
Michigan
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Insurance and Financial Services
- Holding period
- 3 months minimum
Minnesota
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Commerce
- Governing statute
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 325J
Extensive consumer protection provisions.
Mississippi
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Banking and Consumer Finance plus municipal licenses
Missouri
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Division of Finance
- Governing statute
- RSMo Chapter 367
Montana
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- Local authorities
No state statute.
Nebraska
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Banking and Finance
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
Nevada
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Business and Industry
- Holding period
- 30 days
New Hampshire
- Licensing level
- Local
- Licensing authority
- Municipal licensing
- Governing statute
- RSA 398 (some pawnbroker provisions)
New Jersey
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Division of Consumer Affairs
- Governing statute
- NJSA 45:22-1 et seq.
New Mexico
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Financial Institutions Division
- Holding period
- 90 days
New York
- Licensing level
- Local (under state statute)
- Licensing authority
- NYC requires a Department of Consumer and Worker Protection license
- Governing statute
- General Business Law Article 5
North Carolina
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Commissioner of Banks
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
North Dakota
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- Local authorities
No state statute.
Ohio
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Division of Financial Institutions
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
Extensive regulations.
Oklahoma
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Consumer Credit, plus city licenses
- Governing statute
- Pawnshop Act
Oregon
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Division of Financial Regulation
- Holding period
- 60 days minimum
Pennsylvania
- Licensing level
- Local
- Licensing authority
- Municipal licensing; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh require local licenses
- Governing statute
- 63 P.S. §281-1 et seq. (limited state regulation)
Rhode Island
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Business Regulation plus city/town licenses
South Carolina
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Consumer Affairs
- Holding period
- 30 days
South Dakota
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- Local authorities
No state statute.
Tennessee
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial Institutions plus city licenses
Texas
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner
- Governing statute
- Finance Code Title 5, Subtitle B
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
Utah
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial Institutions
- Holding period
- 60 days
Vermont
- Licensing level
- Local
- Licensing authority
- Municipal licensing
- Governing statute
- 9 VSA §41 (some provisions)
Virginia
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Holding period
- 120 days
Washington
- Licensing level
- State + local
- Licensing authority
- Department of Licensing
- Governing statute
- RCW Chapter 19.60
West Virginia
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Division of Financial Institutions
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
Wisconsin
- Licensing level
- State
- Licensing authority
- Department of Financial Institutions
- Holding period
- 30 days minimum
Wyoming
- Licensing level
- Local only
- Licensing authority
- Local authorities
No state statute.
Common questions
What are the pawn shop laws in my state?
Most states license pawnbrokers through a state banking, financial or consumer agency, some pair state licensing with city or county permits, and a few, including Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, have no state pawnshop statute, so cities and counties set the rules. SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/state-pawnshop-laws) lists the licensing agency, statute and holding period for each state.
How long do pawn shops have to hold items before selling them?
Only some states name a holding period. Among those that do, 30 days is the most common minimum (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin). Oregon and Utah name 60 days; Arizona, Indiana and New Mexico 90 days; Michigan 3 months; Connecticut 4 months; and Virginia 120 days. A blank state on this page may still have a local rule.
Do pawn shops have to report to police?
In many places, yes, but the rule usually comes from the state pawn statute or a city or county ordinance, so it differs from one town to the next. Where reporting applies, the shop sends police the seller's ID details and each item's description and serial number, and police compare those records with stolen reports. Your state's licensing agency, listed above, can tell you what applies.
Do pawn shops check if items are stolen?
Mostly through police reporting and the holding period. The shop records the serial number and description of each item and reports it to police, who run those numbers against stolen-property reports. The full answer, including how guns are handled, is in our guide at safeorstolen.com/blog/pawn-shop-stolen-item-verification.
Is it illegal to buy something that turns out to be stolen?
Laws on receiving stolen property vary by state and usually turn on what the buyer knew or should have known. Either way, a stolen item is normally returned to its owner, so the buyer loses the item and the money. Checking the serial number before you pay, and keeping a dated record that you did, is the part you control. This is general information, not legal advice.
Not legal advice
This is a general summary, current as of September 8, 2026. Statutes, licensing rules and holding periods change, and cities and counties often add their own. A blank field means the source didn't name a value, not that no rule exists. Before relying on any of it, confirm with the licensing authority named for your state or with a licensed attorney.
Source
The state licensing summary is adapted from "Pawn Licensing in the US", a guide published by a pawn software company, and has not been checked against each state's current code.
Check the item yourself before you pay
SafeOrStolen searches its theft reports and public web results for any serial number, IMEI or VIN, plus police gun theft reports for guns. 1 free check, then $0.99 for 2 checks or $10 a month unlimited. Pawn shops can run up to 100 numbers at once with the bulk check.