Licensing reference

Locksmith Licensing by State

All 50 states. Updated 2024.

Locksmith licensing in the United States is a patchwork. 15 states require a statewide license; the other 35 leave it to local rule or do not regulate locksmiths at all. Below is the full reference, updated 2024.

States that require statewide locksmith licensing

• Alabama — Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure (AESBL), $75–$250 application + annual renewal
• California — California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), ~$120 application + $99 fingerprinting (Live Scan)
• Connecticut — Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, $150 initial + $100 annual
• Illinois — Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), $300 application + $300 every 3 years
• Louisiana — Louisiana State Fire Marshal — Licensing Section, $50 application + $50 annual
• Maryland — Maryland Department of Labor — Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, $226 application + $226 renewal
• North Carolina — North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board, $160 application + $90 annual
• Nebraska — Nebraska Secretary of State, $50 initial + $50 annual
• New Jersey — New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, $160 initial + $90 biennial
• Nevada — Nevada Private Investigator's Licensing Board (PILB), $700 application + $500 annual
• Oklahoma — Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry — Burglar & Fire Alarm Industry Section, $100 application + $100 annual
• Oregon — Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB), $325 application + $325 biennial
• Tennessee — Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance — Locksmith Licensing Program, $160 application + $80 annual
• Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) — Private Security Bureau, $33 individual + $400 company license
• Virginia — Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), $150 initial + $100 biennial

States without statewide locksmith licensing

Alaska · Arkansas · Arizona · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Iowa · Idaho · Indiana · Kansas · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Mississippi · Montana · North Dakota · New Hampshire · New Mexico · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Utah · Vermont · Washington · Wisconsin · West Virginia · Wyoming

Click any state for the launch checklist (business registration, insurance, local rules to verify).

City-level licensing requirements (always verify locally)

• New York City, NY: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection licenses locksmiths separately, even though New York State does not.
• Miami-Dade County, FL: County-level locksmith registration required ($150–$300, background check).
• Hillsborough County, FL: County-level locksmith registration required.
• Cook County, IL: Note that Illinois already has statewide licensing — Cook County does not add a separate requirement.