5.90.060 - Pawnshop and secondhand dealer establishment permit required.
A. No person shall own, operate, or manage any pawnshop establishment in any location within the city without first having obtained a pawnshop business establishment permit from the chief of police. No person shall own, operate, or manage any secondhand dealer establishment in any location within the city without first having obtained a secondhand dealer establishment permit from the chief of police.
B. Any person desiring to own or operate a pawnshop establishment or secondhand dealer establishment must first obtain the licenses, certificates, and permits described in sections 5.90.030, 5.90.040, and 5.90.050 in order to obtain a pawnshop business establishment permit from the chief of police.
C. The person(s) must file, under penalty of perjury, a written application on forms provided by and submitted to the chief of police. fee amounts for the application may be established by resolution of the city council.
D. The application shall be completed and signed by the owner of the proposed pawnshop or secondhand dealer establishment, if a sole proprietorship; one general partner, if the owner is a partnership; or two officers, if the owner is a corporation. The application shall be deemed complete if it contains or is accompanied by the following information:
1. A description of the type of ownership of the business (i.e., whether by individual, partnership, corporation, or otherwise). If the applicant is a corporation, the application shall include the names and residence addresses of each of its current officers and directors. An applicant corporation or partnership shall list the names and residence addresses of each of its officers or partners.
2. A detailed description of all services to be provided at the pawnshop or secondhand dealer establishment.
3. The proposed business name.
4. The complete address and all telephone numbers of the business.
5. A complete list of the names and residence addresses of all proposed employees or volunteers with a description of the job duties and functions of each. In the event of corporation ownership, the applicant must also include the name and residence addresses of the responsible employee to be principally in charge of the day-to-day operations of the business.
6. Possess original valid licenses, permits, and certificates for the business described in [sections] 5.90.030, 5.90.040, and 5.90.050.
7. A description of any other business owned or operated by the applicant(s) within the State of California.
8. The following personal information concerning every owner:
a. Full complete name and all aliases used;
b. Current residence address and residential addresses for five years immediately preceding the present address, and the inclusive dates for each such address;
c. The complete business, occupation, and employment history for five years preceding the date of application including, but not limited to, pawnshops, pawn-broking, or secondhand dealing and similar business history and experience;
d. The complete permit history including, but not limited to, pawn-broking, secondhand dealing, or similar businesses; whether such person has ever had any permit of license issued by any agency, board, city, county, territory, or state; the date of issuance; whether the permit or license was denied, revoked, or suspended;
e. A complete set of the applicant's fingerprints submitted through the Livescan system. The applicant shall be responsible for payment of any fingerprinting fee.
f. Date of birth and original documentation to verify both the applicant's identity and employment authorization (if applicable), as listed under 8 USC Section 1324a(b)(1) and 8. C.F.R. Section 247a(b)(1);
g. All criminal conviction, including pleas of nolo contendere, within the last ten years, including those dismissed pursuant to Penal Code § 1203.4, and the date and place of each such conviction and reason and sentence thereof; and
h. All pending criminal charges for which the applicant is currently out of custody on bail or on his/her own recognizance.
9. The name and address of the owner or lessor of the real property upon or in which the business is to be conducted. If the applicant is not the property, the application must be accompanied by an acknowledgement from the property owner that a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer establishment will be located on the property.
10. The name and address of any pawnbroker or secondhand dealer establishment or other business wherein pawn-broking or secondhand dealing is owned or operated by any applicant.
11. Such other identification and information as the chief of police may require to verify the truth of the matters set forth in the application.
12. A statement in writing and dated by the applicant certifying under penalty of perjury that all information contained in the application is true and correct.
E. Each permit issued under this section shall expire two years from the date of issuance.
F. An unrevoked permit may be renewed for two years by filing, under penalty of perjury, a written application on forms provided by and submitted to the chief of police. The renewal fees accompanied with the application may be established by resolution of the city council.
G. A business establishment permit required under this section shall be in addition to any license, permit, or fee required under any other chapter of this Code.
H. A permit holder shall notify the chief of police whenever there is a change in information that was required to be submitted in the application. Such notification shall be in writing and made within ten business days of the change.
I. The chief of police shall complete an investigation of the qualifications and moral character of the applicant and either grant or deny the permit within 90 days after the submission of the competed application; provided, however, if good cause exists, the chief of police may extend the period of investigation for an additional 30 days, provided the applicant is mailed notification or verbally notified that the investigation has not been completed.
(Ord. 7708, § 18, 2025; Ord. 7567 § 1(Exh. A), 2021)
