Security Guard & Private Security Companies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida licenses security statewide through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing, under Chapter 493 — Broward County has no separate guard license. The company must hold a Class "B" Security Agency license, each unarmed officer a Class "D", and any armed officer an added Class "G" firearm license; investigation agencies hold a Class "A". All are verifiable on the FDACS portal, so confirm the agency's Class "B" and its officers' credentials before you commit — Fort Lauderdale has a deep supply pool, and checking licensing is the quickest way to filter it.

The cruise and cargo Port Everglades, one of the largest marine and yachting industries in the country, and a busy beachfront give Fort Lauderdale a distinctive waterfront profile. That drives cargo and port access control, marina and yard patrol, vessel and dock coverage, and theft prevention around high-value boats and equipment — much of it overnight. Downtown offices add lobby posts, and the beachfront and Las Olas add hospitality and event work. A provider used to marina and port environments will understand the access, credentialing and after-hours risk these sites carry.

As a dense South Florida market, Fort Lauderdale bills toward the upper part of Florida's roughly $18–$30/hour range for a standing unarmed post before markup — below Miami and Naples in some settings but above the Panhandle and North Florida. A 12-hour daily post bills at a monthly rate built on that wage plus overhead and margin; marina, armed and event posts bill higher, while shared mobile patrol across a corridor costs far less per property. Request two or three itemized quotes from licensed Class "B" agencies and compare scope.

Beyond the port and marinas, the western suburbs of Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Plantation and Pompano Beach sustain steady HOA and residential patrol, retail loss prevention and commercial coverage, while the beachfront and boat shows drive seasonal event and crowd-management work. Many buyers keep a standing or patrol program in place year-round and layer in event staffing for peaks. For gated communities, look for a provider experienced with association boards and residential post orders that can hold a consistent, professional presence.

Our directory lists 639 security guard and private security companies in Fort Lauderdale. Most hold an active license with their state licensing board (such as California BSIS or Illinois IDFPR) and offer on-site security guards, executive protection, corporate security, mobile patrol and alarm monitoring.

Companies are ranked on merit: those with a verified, active state license come first, followed by verified reviews and track record. Reviews count 7 days after they're published. If you only want to see companies with a verified license, check the list of state licensed security companies in Fort Lauderdale.

Costs vary by service type. A security guard post in Fort Lauderdale runs between $8,400 and $13,000 per month for a 12h daily post; an executive protection agent between $16,000 and $37,000 per month; event security between $37 and $63 per guard per hour. We recommend requesting 2-3 quotes to compare.

Security companies in Fort Lauderdale offer on-site security guards, armed security, mobile patrol, event security, executive protection, corporate security, warehouse and industrial security, residential and HOA security, alarm monitoring, video surveillance and security consulting. Each profile details the specific services each provider offers.

Each profile shows the company's license status and, where available, its license number. You can cross-check it on your state licensing board's public lookup — the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) in California or the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) in Illinois. If a company doesn't appear in the registry, or its license shows as expired, suspended or revoked, don't hire it.

Use our quote form to describe what you need (type of service, area within Fort Lauderdale, shifts, number of guards) and we share your request with licensed companies so interested providers can contact you with a quote. It's 100% free with no obligation.

For standard services like on-site guards or alarm monitoring, coverage can typically start within 48-72 hours of accepting a quote. For specialized services (executive protection, large events), expect 5-10 business days for personnel selection, screening and site onboarding.

If an incident occurs involving personnel from an unlicensed company, you can face negligent-hiring liability. Unlicensed operators also frequently lack certified training, guard registration (guard cards) and active liability insurance, and states can fine businesses that knowingly use them. Always verify the state license before signing a contract.