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Permits, violations & licenses

Get a Pawn Shop License

Service overview

You need a Pawn Shop License to operate a pawn shop.

Pawn shops:

  • Lend money in exchange for a customer’s personal property.
  • Buy personal property with the understanding that they’ll sell it back to the customer at a later time for a specific price.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) issues this license.

Who

Business owners and their agents can apply for this license.

Requirements

Where and when

Online

You can apply online using eCLIPSE.

If you need help filing your application online, you can schedule a virtual appointment.

In person

You need an appointment to visit the Permit and License Center in person.

Permit and License Center
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
MSB, Public Service Concourse
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Offices close at noon on the last Wednesday of each month.

Cost

License fee
$253

A non-refundable application fee of $20 is applied toward the license fee. The balance of the license fee is due upon application approval.

Renewal fee
$253

If you renew your license more than 60 days after the due date, you will be charged 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

How

You can apply for this license online using eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.

Online

1
Upload all required documents.

Applications are reviewed within five business days.

2
If the application is approved, you will receive a notice to pay the balance.

If the application isn’t approved, you will receive an email stating what is missing or required.

3
L&I will either issue your license or request more information.

In person

1
Visit the Permit and License Center.

L&I can review most applications while you wait.

2
L&I will either issue your license or request more information.

After you get your license

When you accept personal property from a customer, you must:

  • Get identification, such as a state-issued photo ID.
  • Take a digital photograph of them.
  • Get an imprint of their left thumbprint.
  • Give them a pawn ticket.

You can’t do business on a Sunday, before 8:30 a.m. or after 5 p.m. You can accept pledges or return property until 9 p.m. on Friday and until 6 p.m. on Saturday.

You must register with the Philadelphia Police Department’s online inventory tracking system. All precious metal dealers must enter daily transaction information into the database, which is accessible to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Renewal requirements

Annual renewal:

  • Renew online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center

Required for renewal:

  • Must be current on all City taxes
  • Valid email address

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