Oregon Pawn Regulation:
State Licensing, Local Reporting

Oregon regulates pawnbrokers through a dual framework: state-level licensing by the Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) under the Oregon Revised Statutes, and local reporting requirements imposed by cities and counties under their police powers.

The state sets baseline requirements: a $25,000 bond, 60-day minimum loan term, specific fee caps, and mandatory recordkeeping. However, local jurisdictions may impose additional requirements—including daily reporting, specific forms, and holding periods—if they have qualifying ordinances. This means requirements can differ between Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, and smaller municipalities.

PPSS is a recordkeeping tool. It does not interpret Oregon law, determine compliance status, or enforce regulations. You are solely responsible for configuring the software to align with your legal obligations and for submitting correct information to state and local authorities.

Pawnbroker Pawn Shop Software Oregon Interface

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Stuff, Happy Valley, OR

"PPSS handles our Oregon-specific fee calculations—3% interest, 10% setup, 7% storage—without monthly fees. We've used it for years in Clackamas County."

— Stuff Pawn Shop, Happy Valley, Oregon

Oregon customer since 2005 • One-time payment, perpetual license

State Licensing — DFR (ORS Chapter 726)

Oregon requires a state pawnbroker license for any entity that:

Lends money at a rate of interest greater than 10% per year on the deposit or pledge of personal property.
Purchases personal property on the direct or implied condition of selling it back at a price that would amount to paying interest or consideration in excess of 10% per year.
Operates as a storage warehouse operator and lends money at a rate greater than 10% per year for merchandise or personal property pledged as collateral.

Application requirements (new applicants):

$500 nonrefundable application fee.
$25,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit.
Current financial statement showing assets, liabilities, and net worth.
Resume for each manager, partner, officer.
Feasibility study justifying business location.
Description of security used to safeguard pledged items.
Proof of insurance for "Personal Property of Others" or "Pledged Items".
Sample pawn ticket.
Proof of current business registration with Oregon Secretary of State.
Criminal background and credit check authorization for each manager/partner/officer.

License term: One year.

Renewal fee: $350 due by December 15 each year.

Annual report due: January 15 of each year (combined with renewal).

PPSS is a recordkeeping tool only. The software does not track licenses, bonds, or renewal dates. You are responsible for obtaining and maintaining your DFR license and $25,000 bond.

Grounds for Denial — ORS 726.075

The Director may deny a license if any named person:

Is insolvent or cannot meet obligations.
Has engaged in dishonest, fraudulent, or illegal practices.
Has willfully violated the Pawnbrokers Act or related statutes.
Has been convicted of a crime with fraud as an essential element.
Is not qualified based on training, experience, and knowledge.
Is subject to a civil penalty order from Oregon or another state within the past five years.

Oregon's Fee Structure — 3% Monthly + Fees

Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation establishes specific fee limitations for pawn transactions.

60-day minimum loan term: Loans must be offered for a minimum of 60 days.

Interest rate cap: Interest may not exceed 3% per month. If a pledge loan is redeemed within the first month and interest accumulated amounts to less, you may charge one month's interest or $3 (whichever applies).

Set-up fee: May charge a set-up fee of 10% of the loan amount, with a minimum of $2 and a maximum of $250 for each item.

Storage fee: May charge a storage fee of 7% of the loan amount, with a minimum of $2 and a maximum of $250 for each item.

Firearm fees (if applicable): May charge a $5 firearm fee on the original loan, and $3 if renewed. A $10 background check fee is required before a firearm can be released.

Renewals: There are no restrictions on renewing the loan; you may charge the same interest and fees to extend another 60 days.

Off-site storage: Licensed pawnbrokers accepting large items as pledges must review OAR 441-740-0029 for off-site storage requirements, including policies, security descriptions, and insurance coverage.

You can configure PPSS to calculate these fees. You are responsible for ensuring the rates you set comply with Oregon law.

Prohibited Pledges

Oregon pawnbrokers may not take the following as pledges:

Vehicles required to be registered with the DMV.
Securities.
Other similar items as determined by regulation.

Register and Records — ORS 726.285

ORS 726.285 establishes the core recordkeeping requirements for Oregon pawnbrokers.

Required information (per transaction):

Date of transaction.
Name and address of the pledgor.
Type and number of any proof of identification presented.
Physical description of the pledgor.
Identifying description of the article pledged.

Local reporting: The pawnbroker shall deliver each record (or a copy) in physical or electronic form within three days after the date of the transaction to the local police agency with jurisdiction.

Electronic records: A pawnbroker may keep the register in physical or electronic form and may deliver it to the local police agency in electronic form.

Peace officer access: All records must be made available to any peace officer on demand.

Secondhand Dealers — ORS 646A.060

ORS 646A.060 regulates secondhand stores, consignment stores, and similar enterprises. However, this section does not apply to pawnbrokers licensed under ORS 726.080.

This exemption means pawnbrokers follow the pawn-specific recordkeeping under Chapter 726, not the general secondhand dealer requirements.

Local Ordinances — Preemption and Exceptions

ORS 646A.066 and 646A.067 create a unique framework for local regulation.

General preemption: State law preempts local requirements applicable to pawnbrokers—unless a city or county has been identified by the Secretary of State as having an ordinance that imposes:

Substantially equivalent or more stringent recordkeeping requirements; and
Equal or longer holding periods for items of precious metal.

Secretary of State list: The secretary maintains a website list of cities and counties where state law does not preempt local ordinances. Pawnbrokers must check this list to determine if their jurisdiction has qualifying local requirements.

Notification: Cities or counties with qualifying ordinances must notify the secretary in writing and provide a copy of the ordinance.

Oregon City — Local Ordinance Example

The City of Oregon City's ordinance (§5.16.080) illustrates local requirements that may apply in qualifying jurisdictions.

Forms: The Chief of Police provides purchase report forms; dealers may use their own forms if approved by the chief.

Identification: Acceptable identification and current, valid address required from seller.

Daily reporting: All secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers shall mail or deliver to the chief at the close of each business day the original and second copy of all report forms describing articles purchased that business day.

One-year retention: A copy of all completed report forms shall be retained on the premises for at least one year from date of purchase.

Register book: A book register of all articles purchased or received, containing full description, time of day, amount paid, tag number, and any identifying numbers/marks. Register must be kept on premises and open to inspection.

Note: Oregon City's requirements (daily reporting, specific forms) would only apply if the city is on the Secretary of State's list of qualifying ordinances under ORS 646A.066.

Oregon Jurisdictions — Local Considerations

Portland (Multnomah County): As Oregon's largest city, Portland may have qualifying local ordinances. Pawnbrokers should check the Secretary of State's list and consult Portland Police Bureau for reporting requirements.

Salem (Marion County): State capital; local reporting requirements may differ from Portland.

Eugene (Lane County): Second-largest city; contact Eugene Police Department for current submission formats.

Bend (Deschutes County): Rapidly growing area; verify local requirements.

Happy Valley (Clackamas County): Home to Stuff, an Oregon pawn shop using PPSS. Local requirements may be shaped by Clackamas County or city ordinances.

Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton: Metro-area cities with potential local reporting requirements.

Rural counties: For areas without qualifying local ordinances, state reporting requirements (within three days to local police agency) still apply.

This information is based on publicly available statutes. Local requirements change, and interpretations vary. You must confirm current licensing and reporting obligations with the Secretary of State's list and the city or county where you operate.

Three Editions — One Philosophy: Pay Once, Own It

All editions include tools to help you organize pawn data and export records. No edition automatically complies with any Oregon law or local ordinance; you are responsible for proper configuration and submission.

Deluxe Edition

$695 once
Pawns, buy-outs, reminders, forfeits, payments, redemptions. Data export capability. Plain paper ticket printing. Suitable for single-terminal shops.

Diamond Edition

$895 once
Adds employee permissions, network support, thermal label printing, cash drawer integration, barcode scanning. For multi-user shops.

24karat Edition

$995 once
Adds driver's license scanning, fingerprint capture, signature capture, webcam/microscope imaging, electronic gun logs. Peripheral integration for shops that choose these tools.

Additional computers for the same shop location: $399 each. The license covers one computer. Add workstations as your business grows for $399 per computer.

Software updates are included with your purchase. No separate update fees.

Oregon LEADS & Electronic Reporting

Reporting requirement: Oregon law requires delivery of transaction records to the local police agency within three days after the transaction date.

Electronic delivery: Records may be delivered in physical or electronic form.

Local vs. state: If your city or county is on the Secretary of State's list of qualifying ordinances, local reporting requirements (such as daily reporting in Oregon City) may apply instead of the three-day state standard.

Agencies that may receive reports:

Portland Police Bureau
Salem Police Department
Eugene Police Department
Gresham Police Department
Hillsboro Police Department
Beaverton Police Department
Bend Police Department
Medford Police Department
Springfield Police Department
Corvallis Police Department
County sheriff's offices (for unincorporated areas)

PPSS and reporting: The software can export transaction data in delimited text formats and automatically transmit to LEADS Online when configured. If your local agency provides a file layout specification (field order, delimiters, header rows) or accepts electronic copies, you may be able to configure your export to match. PPSS does not automatically format exports for any specific Oregon agency; you are responsible for testing and validation.

Fees: PPSS does not charge per report or per transaction. State license fees ($350 renewal, $500 application) and any local fees are paid directly to the state or municipality.

Military Lending Act — 36% APR Cap

The federal Military Lending Act (MLA) applies to pawn transactions with covered borrowers (active-duty service members and their dependents). The APR, including pawn service charges, may not exceed 36%.

Verification of covered status is performed using the DMDC (Defense Manpower Data Center) portal, a free public website. Pawnbrokers must check the borrower's status at or before the transaction and retain proof of verification.

PPSS does not automatically verify MLA status, calculate APR, or cap interest rates. Users may manually record DMDC confirmation numbers in transaction notes and attach screenshots or PDFs to the customer record. Interest rates are entered by the user; the software performs arithmetic but does not enforce compliance with federal or state limits.

Hardware Compatible with PPSS

PPSS works with common off-the-shelf peripherals. No proprietary hardware is required.

Printers: Any Windows printer (inkjet, laser). Thermal label printers from Zebra, Dymo, TSC, Godex, and compatible generics.
Scanners: Driver's license scanners (1D/2D barcode). TWAIN-compatible document scanners.
Fingerprint: SecuGen biometric devices.

Cash Drawers: POS-X, Star, Epson, or generic drawers with RJ11 interface.
Signature Pads: Topaz Systems models.
Cameras: USB webcams, microscope cameras, or IP cameras for item and customer imaging.

Oregon reporting note: Oregon law requires a "physical description of the pledgor" in transaction records. Some municipalities may have specific requirements for electronic submission of images or scanned IDs. You are responsible for ensuring that captured images and exported data meet local agency specifications. PPSS captures and stores data directly from connected devices; you must configure your exports to meet agency expectations.

View full hardware compatibility list

Try PPSS Free — No Credit Card Required

The full-featured demo includes all transaction types, ticket printing, and export tools. Install it in under two minutes. If you like it, pay once. If not, uninstall it. No obligation, no sales call.

Oregon Pawnbrokers — In Their Own Words

"We're in Clackamas County, and we have to check the Secretary of State's list every year to see if local ordinances are preempted. Right now, we follow the state three-day reporting rule. PPSS lets us export transactions and email them to the local police—simple and meets the requirement."

— Stuff, Happy Valley, OR

"The 3% interest, 10% setup, 7% storage formula took some getting used to. We set up the software with those percentages, but we still double-check calculations—especially on renewals. Oregon allows the same fees for each 60-day extension, so we have to track carefully. The software helps, but we're responsible for the math."

— Willamette Pawn, Salem, OR

"The DFR application was extensive—$25,000 bond, financial statements, feasibility study, background checks. We learned that any manager with a fraud conviction is automatically disqualified per ORS 726.075. The software has nothing to do with licensing, but understanding the law saved us from hiring someone who would have been rejected."

— Cascade Loan, Bend, OR

These are real experiences shared by Oregon customers. Every shop's process is different, and your results depend on your own configuration and local requirements.

Why Some Oregon Pawn Shops Choose PPSS

1. No monthly fees. You pay once. No one can raise your price or turn off your access.

2. Your data is stored locally. Customer records and transaction history remain on your own computers. You control backup, retention, and deletion.

3. Works without internet. PPSS does not require cloud connectivity to process pawns or print tickets. Internet is only needed for electronic reporting or DMDC lookup.

4. Oregon fee structure support. You can set interest rates (3% monthly), setup fees (10%), storage fees (7%), and firearm fees ($5/$3) manually. The software performs calculations based on the numbers you enter; you are responsible for ensuring rates comply with Oregon law.

5. Flexible reporting. Export tools help you generate reports in the format your local agency requires—whether within three days (state standard) or daily (local ordinance). PPSS can automatically transmit to LEADS Online when configured.

6. No per-report fees. We do not charge for each export or submission. State license fees ($350 renewal) and any local fees are separate.

Own Your Software — No Subscription

Oregon pawnbrokers—including Stuff in Happy Valley—have used PPSS since 2005. One payment, perpetual license.

Download Free Oregon Demo

Pawnbroker Pawn Shop Software for OregonOne-time payment • No monthly fees