State-by-State Pawnshop & Secondhand Dealer Laws (All 50 States)

SafeOrStolen

Compliance Guide

State-by-State Pawnshop & Secondhand Dealer Law Guide

Do pawnshops and secondhand dealers have to report to police, or check whether an item is stolen? In plain language: it depends entirely on where you are. Most states license pawnbrokers through a state financial or consumer agency, and many set a minimum holding period before a pawned item can be resold — time that can give police a window to identify property reported stolen. Other states leave the whole thing to cities and counties, and a few have no dedicated state statute at all.

What that means for you as a buyer or seller: never assume the item in front of you was checked. Licensing does not automatically mean a theft check happened, holding periods are not searches, and rules differ from one county to the next. Whichever state you are in, an independent check is the only part of the process you control — and it takes seconds.

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State vs local

Whether the license comes from a state agency, a city or county, or both.

Governing statute

Listed where the source names a specific act or code section.

Holding period

Shown only for states where the source names one. Blank does not mean none exists.

Pawnshop Licensing by State

Alabama

Licensing level: State + local
Licensing authority: Alabama Banking Department
Governing statute: Pawnshop Act
Holding period: 30 days minimum

Alaska

Licensing level: Local only
Licensing authority: City/borough authorities (e.g. Anchorage)

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

Florida

Licensing level: State
Licensing authority: Office of Financial Regulation
Holding period: 30 days

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

Illinois

Licensing level: State + local
Licensing authority: Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Governing statute: Pawnbroker Regulation Act

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

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

Maryland

Licensing level: State + local
Licensing authority: Commissioner of Financial Regulation

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

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

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

Ohio

Licensing level: State
Licensing authority: Division of Financial Institutions
Holding period: 30 days minimum

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my state require pawnshops to report to police?

It depends on the state, and this page summarizes how each one licenses pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers. Most states license pawnshops at the state level, some leave it entirely to cities and counties, and several — including Illinois and Minnesota — pair licensing with detailed transaction reporting rules. Because requirements differ so much and enforcement varies locally, you should never assume an item you are buying was reported or checked. Confirm current rules with the regulator listed for your state, and verify the item yourself with SafeOrStolen, which checks an IMEI, VIN, serial number, license plate, or firearm serial and returns a result in about 3 seconds. You get 2 free checks, then $0.99 per check or $10/month unlimited. You can also install the free SafeOrStolen web app at safeorstolen.com/app and check items on your phone while you are standing at the counter.

How long do pawnshops have to hold items before reselling?

Holding periods are set state by state and only some states name one. Among the states that do, 30 days is the most common minimum (including Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin), while Oregon and Utah name 60 days, Arizona, Indiana and New Mexico name 90 days, Michigan names 3 months, Connecticut names 4 months, and Virginia names 120 days. Holding periods exist partly so police have time to identify property reported stolen, but they are not a guarantee that any check happened. Verify the item independently at SafeOrStolen before you pay — 2 free checks, then $0.99 per check or $10/month unlimited, with results in about 3 seconds, on the web or through the free web app at safeorstolen.com/app.

Is it legal to buy something without checking if it is stolen?

This page is general information, not legal advice, and rules on receiving stolen property vary by state — check with your state regulator or a lawyer for your own situation. Practically, though, buying an item that turns out to be stolen usually means losing both the item and the money you paid, whether or not you knew. Running the identifier through SafeOrStolen before you pay takes about 3 seconds, gives you a dated record of the check, and costs nothing for your first 2 verifications ($0.99 per check or $10/month unlimited after that). The free installable web app at safeorstolen.com/app lets you do it from your phone at the point of sale.

Do secondhand dealers have to check whether items are stolen?

Licensing and recordkeeping obligations for secondhand dealers are set by state statute or by local ordinance, and in states such as Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming there is no state pawnshop statute at all — the rules come from the city or county. Some jurisdictions require transaction reporting that lets police compare records against theft reports; others require far less. Because coverage is uneven, buyers and sellers should treat an independent verification as their own responsibility. SafeOrStolen checks phones, vehicles, license plates, serialized electronics, firearms, and bicycles in one place and returns a result in about 3 seconds.

Disclaimer

This page is general informational content, not legal advice. It is current as of its publish date, September 8, 2026, and licensing rules, statutes, and holding periods change. Blank fields mean the source did not name a value, not that no requirement exists. Confirm current requirements with your state's regulatory agency — the licensing authority named for each state above — or with a licensed attorney before relying on any of it.

Source

State licensing summary adapted from pawn-software.com — Pawn Licensing in the US.

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