Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez clarifies that pawn shops may remain open

To clarify the Order I signed last week on business closures, pawn shops are not included. They can remain open for business, since under federal law these shops are allowed to remain open to provide essential financial resources to those in need, especially during certain emergencies.

Pawn shops are designated as financial institutions because they provide loaning services. Several governing laws regulate pawn shops, including the Patriot Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Truth-in-Lending Act, as well as additional rules from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), including the Safeguard of Consumer Information and Data Privacy. Other federal agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulate pawn shops that deal with firearms.

Mayor Gimenez urges all pawn shops and their clientele to follow recommendations from the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

For updates on COVID-19 and Miami-Dade County Emergency Orders, go to miamidade.gov/coronavirus.