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Verified state licenses

State Licensed Private Security Companies 2026

Listing of 1885 private security companies with an active license verified against official state licensing boards like California BSIS and Illinois IDFPR. Verify each company's license before you hire.

1885 licensed companies Official state license lookup

State licensed companies by city

Los Angeles928 state licensedChicago224 state licensedSacramento119 state licensedSan Diego99 state licensedSan Jose84 state licensedRiverside72 state licensedSan Francisco70 state licensedIrvine59 state licensedFresno57 state licensedAnaheim54 state licensedBakersfield45 state licensedOakland37 state licensedLong Beach37 state licensed

How we verify state licenses

Official registry cross-check: our team matches each company's name, license number and status against the public lookups of state licensing boards (California BSIS, Illinois IDFPR) on a periodic basis.

Visible license number: every licensed company shows its license number on its profile so you can cross-check it yourself with the state board.

Continuous updates: licensing boards publish new licenses, expirations and disciplinary actions; we mark as “not verified” any company whose license lapses or is suspended.

Business-record checks: we combine license registries with public business records to list only companies that are actually operating.

Frequently asked questions

Who licenses private security companies in the US?
Private security is regulated at the state level by state licensing boards. In California, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) licenses Private Patrol Operators and registers security guards; in Illinois, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) licenses private security contractor agencies. Hiring a state-licensed company ensures it meets its state's legal requirements and that its officers are properly registered and trained.
Where can I check the official license registry?
Each state licensing board publishes a free public license lookup — BSIS in California and IDFPR in Illinois. Our listing reflects the active licenses we've verified against those registries; we recheck status periodically and display each company's license number.
How many state licensed companies are in the listing?
We currently list 1885 state licensed security companies in our directory, across 13 US cities. You can filter by city using the grid above.
What should a properly licensed company have?
A properly licensed company should have: an active state license number, registered and trained security officers (guard cards, plus firearm permits for armed posts), general liability insurance, workers' compensation coverage, and uniforms and official IDs. Check all of these points before hiring.
What are the risks of hiring an unlicensed company?
Hiring an unlicensed company exposes you to legal risk (negligent-hiring liability if an incident occurs), operational risk (untrained, unregistered personnel) and compliance risk — states can fine both the operator and the business that uses them. Unlicensed operators also commonly cut corners on wages and insurance for their guards.