Our Commitment: PawnSight is designed by people who understand the pawn industry's complex regulatory environment. We build tools to help you stay compliant, but you remain responsible for knowing and following your local, state, and federal requirements.
State Pawn Shop Regulations
Pawn shops operate under a patchwork of state and local regulations. PawnSight helps you navigate these requirements:
State-by-State Pawn Licensing
Our software includes templates and reminders for common licensing requirements across different states. We track renewal dates and provide documentation tools to help with license applications and renewals.
Transaction Recording
PawnSight automatically captures all the transaction details required by most state regulations, including:
- Customer identification and verification
- Item descriptions with photos
- Transaction dates and amounts
- Interest rates and fees
- Maturity and forfeiture dates
Holding Period Management
Different states have different holding periods before items can be sold. Our software tracks these automatically and sends alerts before items become eligible for sale.
Federal Compliance Requirements
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
For pawn transactions that qualify as loans under TILA, PawnSight helps you:
- Calculate and disclose APRs correctly
- Generate compliant loan documentation
- Track payment schedules and maturity dates
- Maintain required records for the prescribed time periods
ATF Firearms Requirements
If your pawn shop deals in firearms, PawnSight provides:
- ATF Form 4473 integration and storage
- Background check status tracking
- Firearms acquisition and disposition records
- Serial number tracking and verification
- Alerts for required ATF reporting
Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and FinCEN Reporting
Pawn shops are subject to certain BSA requirements. PawnSight helps with:
- Currency Transaction Reports (CTR) for transactions over $10,000
- Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) documentation and tracking
- Customer identification program (CIP) compliance
- Record keeping requirements for covered transactions
Police Reporting
Most jurisdictions require pawn shops to report transactions to local law enforcement. PawnSight streamlines this process:
Automated Police Reports
Generate daily, weekly, or monthly reports in the format required by your local police department. Common formats supported include:
- CSV exports with customizable fields
- PDF reports with photos
- Direct integration with police database systems (where available)
- Email delivery to designated officers
Hold Notifications
When law enforcement places a hold on items, PawnSight tracks:
- Hold placement dates and reasons
- Investigating officer information
- Hold release dates and conditions
- Required notifications to customers
Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
While pawn shops aren't subject to the same AML requirements as banks, PawnSight includes tools to help you identify and report suspicious activity:
- Customer transaction pattern analysis
- Large transaction flagging
- Unusual item type or volume alerts
- Documentation tools for suspicious activity reports
Record Keeping and Audit Trail
PawnSight maintains comprehensive records to help with compliance audits:
- All transactions are logged with timestamps and user information
- Changes to records are tracked with audit trails
- Documents are stored with digital signatures
- Backup and archival systems preserve long-term records
- Easy export tools for regulatory requests
Privacy and Data Protection
Our local-first architecture provides additional compliance benefits:
- Customer data stays on your premises by default
- You control what information gets backed up to the cloud
- Encrypted backups protect sensitive information
- Easy data deletion for compliance with right-to-be-forgotten requests
Important Legal Disclaimer
PawnSight provides software tools designed to help with compliance, but we are not lawyers and this is not legal advice.
Every pawn shop operates in a different regulatory environment with different requirements. You are responsible for:
- Understanding all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction
- Configuring the software properly for your compliance needs
- Training your staff on proper procedures
- Consulting with qualified legal counsel when needed
- Staying current with changes to regulations
PawnSight cannot guarantee that using our software will ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Staying Updated on Regulations
The regulatory landscape for pawn shops continues to evolve. PawnSight helps you stay informed:
- Regular software updates include new compliance features
- Newsletter updates on regulatory changes
- Integration with industry associations and resources
- Community forums for sharing compliance best practices
Compliance Questions?
If you have questions about PawnSight's compliance features or need help configuring the software for your regulatory requirements:
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Compliance Question
For legal advice about regulations in your area, please consult with a qualified attorney who specializes in pawn shop law.
Last updated: February 2026