A private patrol operator operates a business that protects persons or property or prevents theft.
In order for a company to seek licensure as a Private Patrol Operator, the Qualified Manager
(see below) must have passed the licensing examination. In addition, each individual applicant,
partner, or corporate officer must meet the following requirements:
To apply for a company license, submit the $700 company license fee, two recent passport-quality
photographs and a Private Patrol Operator Live Scan form signed by the Live Scan Operator.
A $32 DOJ fingerprint processing fee and a $19 FBI fingerprint processing fee must be paid at the
Live Scan site for each applicant, partner, and officer. Send your application to the Bureau of Security
and Investigative Services, P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002. (A Qualified Manage
r who is also an applicant, partner, or officer is not required to send in another set of fingerprints or pay another fingerprint processing fee.)
A Private Patrol Operator must have $1 million in liability insurance (we have the price secrets!).
An individual, partnership, or corporation seeking a license as a Private Patrol Operator must
specify in the application the individual who will manage the business on a day-to-day basis.
This individual is called the Qualified Manager. (An owner, partner, or corporate officer may serve
as the Qualified Manager, or may hire someone to fill this role.) To be eligible to apply for licensure
as a Qualified Manager, you must meet the following requirements:
The general requirements for Private Patrol Operator's license are:
Approximately two to four months.
A Private Patrol Operator's license is valid for two years.
You may submit a new application one year from the date of denial.
Yes. You must report the conviction.
Yes. A conviction does not have to be a felony for the Bureau to deny licensure.
Following a two-year period the license is scheduled for renewal. The applicant may receive a (courtesy)
renewal application mailed to the last address of record. If you do not receive a renewal application,
you should submit a copy of your license with a written request for renewal, including the fees for renewal
(see fee schedule) and mail to:
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
P.O. Box 989002
West Sacramento CA 95798-9002
(This must be submitted before the expiration date.)
Your license is delinquent 30 days after your license expires.
To renew your license you must then pay the renewal fee and the delinquent fee.
You may renew your license for three years after it has expired.
The license may be renewed upon payment of the renewal fee and the delinquent fee.
If after three years you fail to renew, you must submit a new application and begin the application process again.
Yes. Please contact the Bureau at (916) 322-4000 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday.
You must notify the Bureau in writing within 30 days of an address change.
Be sure to include your license number, name, previous address, new address,
date of birth and Social Security number. Please print information.
To change your business name, you must submit a $25 fee and a written request to the Bureau.
Submit at least eight names for consideration. The first name requested will be approved unless
the name could be confused with, or is similar to, a federal, state, county, or municipal agency
function or to any law enforcement agency. In addition, any name, which could describe any
business function or enterprise, not actually engaged in by the licensee under that name would be denied.
*You may not operate under your requested new name until approval is received.
You may request a duplicate license by submitting a written request to the Bureau,
explaining the circumstances, with a $10 fee. Please allow four to six weeks for a replacement.
No. An error on a license is to be returned for correction to the Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services without charge. A correction will take approximately three to four weeks.
Please clarify the error in writing and return the license.
Yes. The private patrol operator may list a post office box only if mail delivered to the business address is not possible,
or if the principal place of business is located at the licensee's personal residence. This request must be explained in writing.
Otherwise, the company must state address by street, number and city. In addition, no licensee shall conduct business
from any location other than the location for which a license or branch office registration was issued.
Approximately four to six weeks.
Licenses cannot be transferred or reassigned to new entities. A change of ownership or partners constitutes a new entity.
You must submit a new application with appropriate fees. For example: if you apply and become licensed as a sole owner
and later decide to form a partnership or corporation, you must apply for a new license. To delete a partner, a new
application for licensure is required. It is not necessary to reapply for a new license, for the addition of a partner(s)
to an existing license issued to a partnership.
Upon written request to the Bureau, a branch office application will be mailed to you. The branch office fee is $75.
