Hiring security in Florida? Here's who regulates it, what a company and its guards must be licensed to hold, how armed guards are permitted, and how to verify a license yourself in minutes.
If you're hiring a security company in Florida, confirming its license is the single most important check you can make. It tells you the provider is lawful, insured, and accountable — and it protects you from the negligent-hiring liability that comes with putting an unqualified, uninsured operation on your property. This guide covers who regulates private security in Florida, what a company and its guards must hold, how armed guards are licensed, and exactly how to verify a license yourself.
In Florida, security is regulated by FDACS. A company must hold a Class “B” Security Agency license, and guards hold a Class “D” Security Officer license. Verify a license through Florida FDACS — Division of Licensing.
In Florida, private security is regulated at the state level by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing. A legitimate security company must hold a valid Class “B” Security Agency license, and — in most cases — its officers must hold an individual guard credential. Hiring an unlicensed provider is both a legal risk for the operator and a liability risk for you, so verifying the license is the first step before you sign anything.
Florida uses a clear letter-class system — Class “B” for the agency, Class “D” for the guard, and Class “G” for armed — and requires an annual firearm requalification for armed officers.
The company license
The credential that authorizes a business to sell security services in Florida is the Class “B” Security Agency license, issued by FDACS. This is the license to confirm first — it means the company has met the state's ownership, background-check, insurance, and record-keeping requirements. Ask the provider for its license number in writing and verify it yourself rather than trusting a logo or a claim.
Guard registration and training
Individual officers in Florida typically must hold a Class “D” Security Officer license. The state requires 40 hours of training for the Class “D” license before or shortly after an officer begins work. When you hire, confirm that the guards actually assigned to your site hold current registrations — a valid company license doesn't guarantee every officer on the roster is properly credentialed and trained.
Behind the license: what Florida actually requires
A license isn't just a certificate — it represents a set of standards the company had to meet and must keep meeting, overseen by FDACS. In practice that typically means a background-checked owner or qualified manager with documented industry experience, $300,000 combined single-limit coverage, and adherence to training and record-keeping standards for the officers the company deploys. The license also creates accountability: the licensing authority can suspend or revoke it for misconduct, and — where a public record exists — you can inspect that history. An unlicensed operator in Florida has none of that structure: no vetted ownership, no guaranteed insurance floor, no training oversight, and no regulator to answer to when something goes wrong.
Armed guards in Florida
Armed security in Florida requires more than the base credential. An armed officer must hold Class “G” Statewide Firearm License, which involves a 28-hour firearm course plus a 4-hour annual requalification, and the minimum age is 21. Because armed work carries far higher liability and insurance requirements, only hire armed coverage when a documented threat justifies it — and always confirm the specific armed credential, not just the guard registration. Our national guide to armed vs. unarmed guards covers the decision in depth.
What armed coverage means for your liability in Florida
Hiring armed officers in Florida raises your exposure, not just the provider's. Armed work carries far higher insurance requirements, and if an officer uses force, a claim can reach the client through vicarious liability and negligent-hiring theories — so the firm's actual coverage limits matter as much as the guard's permit. Confirm the provider carries firearms and use-of-force coverage with real limits (standard general-liability policies often exclude firearms incidents), verify the officer's armed credential rather than assuming the base registration covers it, and reserve armed coverage in Florida for situations a documented threat assessment actually justifies.
How to verify a security license in Florida
Verification takes only a few minutes:
- Get the license number. Ask the provider for its state license number in writing.
- Open the official lookup. Go to Florida FDACS — Division of Licensing — the official source, not a third-party site.
- Search and confirm. Look up the company by license number or exact legal name, and confirm the record is active, unexpired, matches the business, and shows no disciplinary action.
- Verify the guards. Confirm the officers assigned to you hold current registrations, plus the armed credential if applicable.
- Confirm insurance. Request a current certificate of insurance and check it against your needs.
Our national guide on how to verify a security company's license walks through the process for every state and explains what to look for on the record.
Renewal & re-verification. A Florida license typically renews every two years, and can be suspended between renewals — so verification isn't one-and-done. Re-check on Florida FDACS — Division of Licensing at renewal time and before signing a new contract.
Common ways providers slip through in Florida
Asking "are you licensed?" isn't enough, because the ways a provider can look legitimate without being legitimate are predictable. Watch for: an expired or suspended license presented as current — check the live status on Florida FDACS — Division of Licensing, not a framed certificate; a license number that doesn't resolve to the exact legal business name, address, and status you expect; officers deployed without proper registration or training, which is why you verify the guards and not just the company; and subcontracting, where your posts are quietly handed to a cheaper, possibly unlicensed firm you never vetted. Ask in writing whether any work will be subcontracted, and require any subcontractor to meet the same standard.
Insurance and bonding in Florida
Licensed providers in Florida are generally expected to carry $300,000 combined single-limit coverage. That's a floor, not a ceiling — for your own protection, require a current certificate of insurance and confirm the coverage meets your contract's needs regardless of the state minimum. See our guide to security contracts and insurance for what else to require before you sign.
A hiring checklist for Florida
- Verify the company license on Florida FDACS — Division of Licensing — active, unexpired, and matching the legal business name.
- Verify the officers hold a current Class “D” Security Officer license.
- For armed posts, confirm Class “G” Statewide Firearm License and the minimum age of 21.
- Confirm insurance — request a current certificate and check it against $300,000 combined single-limit coverage, plus workers' compensation.
- Check training — the standard here is 40 hours of training for the Class “D” license.
- Compare at least three licensed providers on identical scope; see our national guide to hiring a security company and our cost guide.
What makes Florida distinctive
Florida runs one of the clearest licensing systems in the country through its letter classes: Class "B" is the agency, Class "D" is the unarmed officer, and Class "G" is the statewide firearm license. The Class G is notable — it takes a 28-hour course plus a 4-hour annual requalification, and a Class D holder who is 21 with a Class G may carry concealed on duty, not just openly. FDACS's Division of Licensing runs separate public searches for agencies and for individuals, so verifying a Florida provider means checking both the Class B company and the Class D and G officers you'll actually get on site.
Before you hire in Florida
Once you've confirmed a provider is licensed and insured, the rest of the vetting is the same everywhere — check training, supervision, references, and pricing, and compare at least three licensed companies on identical scope. Our guide to hiring a security guard company covers the full process, and our cost guide explains what security should cost.
Ready to hire in Florida? Get free quotes from licensed security companies, or browse verified security companies in your area.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses security companies in Florida?+
How do I verify a security company's license in Florida?+
What do armed security guards need in Florida?+
What training do security guards need in Florida?+
Is a business license the same as a security license in Florida?+
How often should I re-check a security company's license in Florida?+
Share this guide
