licensing

STATES' REQUIREMENTS FOR
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR (PRIVATE DETECTIVE)
LICENSING

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Portland, Oregon
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NOTE: The following information is a guide to the licensing requirements of the individual states. Wherever possible, there is a link to the actual state's law. HOWEVER, in many jurisdictions there are city and/or county regulations that may apply. In most areas that do not require licensing, it is at least necessary to obtain a business license. Double check all information, as it is subject to change.

DO NOT ADVERTISE OR OFFER YOUR SERVICES FOR SALE UNLESS YOU HAVE OBTAINED A LICENSE, IF ONE IS REQUIRED IN YOUR STATE. MOST JURISDICTIONS HAVE STIFF PENALTIES FOR DOING SO, AND MANY PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS ARE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR UNLICENSED COMPETITORS. IT IS ILLEGAL IN MOST STATES TO PRACTICE OR SOLICIT BUSINESS OVER THE INTERNET WITHOUT THE APPLICABLE LICENSE.

If you find any information on this page to be incorrect, or any broken links, please email me.

Alabama
There is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alabama, although some cities, such as Birmingham and Mobile, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alabama.
State Law
State P.I. Association

Alaska
There is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alaska, although some cities, such as Fairbanks, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alaska.
City of Fairbanks
State P.I. Association

Arizona
Dept. of Public Safety, Licensing Division
P. O. Box 6328
Phoenix, AZ 85005
(602) 223-2361.
Web Site
State Law (scroll down to chapter 24)
State P.I. Association

Arkansas
Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies
#1 State Police Plaza Dr.
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
(501) 618-8600
State Police web site - contact for further information
Fees and exemptions

California
Licensing Division, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
400 R Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(800) 952-5210
Web Site
State law (check the box marked Business and Professions Code, type in private investigator at the bottom, click on the search button, then click on the top choice that returns )
State P.I. Association

Colorado
None required.
State P.I. Association

Connecticut
Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police
294 Colony St.
Meriden, CT 06450-2098
Web site (scroll down page for PI information)
State P.I. Association

Delaware
Detective Licensing, Delaware State Police
P. O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 736-5900
State Police Web Site

District of Columbia
Security Officers Management Branch, Metro Police
Security Unit 2000
14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 671-0500

Florida
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Licensing, Bureau of License Issuance
P.O. Box 6687
Tallahassee, Fla. 32314-6687
(850) 488-5381
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association

Georgia
State Board of Private Security Agencies
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
(478) 207-1460
Web Site
State Law

Hawaii
Board of Private Detectives & Guards
DCCA, PVL, Licensing Branch
1010 Richards St.
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801.
(808) 586-3000 or (808) 586-2701

Idaho
None required by the state.

Illinois
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Web page
State law
State P.I. Association

Indiana
Private Detective Licensing Board
100 N. Senae Ave., Rm 1021
Indiana Government Center North
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2246
(317) 232-2980
Web Page
State Law

Iowa
Administrative Services Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety
Wallace State Office Bldg.
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-3211
State law
State P.I. Association

Kansas
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-8200
Web Site
State P.I. Association

Kentucky
(Licensing pending - this entry will be updated when it is in effect)
Copy of new state licensing law
State P.I. Association

Louisiana
L.S.B.P.I.E.
2051 Silverside Drive, Suite 190
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Web Site
State P.I. Association

Maine
State Police Licensing Division
State House Station #164
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-8775
State Law
State P.I. Association

Maryland
Maryland State Police, PI Licensing Division
Jessup, MD
(410) 799-0191, ext. 331
State Law
State P.I. Association
Other State P.I. Association

Massachusetts
Massachusetts State Police
Special Licensing Unit
485 Maple Street
Danvers, MA 01923
978-538-6128 voice
978-538-6021 fax
State P.I. Association

Michigan
The Department of Consumer & Industry Services
P.O. Box 30018
Lansing, Michigan 48909
(517) 241-5645
Web Site
State Law (use arrows beside 'Documents' to navigate through pages)
State P.I. Association

Minnesota
Department of Public Safety Private Detective & Protective Agent Services Board
*new address*
445 Minnesota St.St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 215-1753
Web Site
State law
State P.I. Association

Mississippi
None required.
MISSISSIPPI PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 4484
Meridian, MS 39304

Missouri
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102
None required on the state level, but Kansas City, St Louis, Joplin, St Joseph and Springfield require licensing.

<> On August 28, 2007 a bill was signed into law in Missouri requiring the licensing of private investigators statewide. The law now requires a written exam, with an exclusion for those with current POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certification. The law also requires background checks, fingerprinting, and submission of documentation and photograph, $250,000 general liability insurance. According to the professional licensing board website at this link, http://pr.mo.gov/pi.asp . While the law is in effect, the state's website says it has not yet appointed the licensing board members and does not anticipate doing so until the legislative session of 2008. It also indicates that it will not begin enforcing the new licensing requirement until January 2009.

Montana
Board of Private Security Patrol Officers and Investigators
301 S Park, Room 430
PO Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2387, Fax: (406) 841-2309
Web Site

Nebraska
Secretary of State
State Capitol, Suite 2300
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2554
Web site
State law

Nevada
Office of the Attorney General
Private Investigator's Licensing Board
100 N. Carson St.
Carson City, NV 89701-4717
(775) 687-3223
State law

New Hampshire
State Police
Division of Licenses and Permits
Hazen DR., Concord, NH 03305
(603) 271-3575
State Law
State P.I. Association

New Jersey
State Police
Department of Law & Public Safety
Private Detective Unit
P. O. Box 7068
W. Trenton, NJ 08688-0068
(609) 882-2000, ext 2931
Web site
State P.I. Association

New Mexico
Bureau of Private Investigators
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
(505) 476-7080
Web Site
State Law

New York
Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
84 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208-3490
Web site
State Law
State P.I. Association

North Carolina
Private Protective Services Board
1631 Midtown Place, Suite 104
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 875-3611
(919) 875-3609 fax
Web site
State P.I. Association

North Dakota
Private Investigative & Security Board
P.O. Box 7026
Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 222-3063
Web Site

Ohio
Ohio Department of Commerce
Division of Licensing
77 South High St.
Columbus, OH 43266-0546
(614) 466-4130
State Law
State P.I. Association

Oklahoma
Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training
Private Security Division
P. O. Box 11476-Cimarron Station
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0476
(405) 425-2775
State Law
State P.I. Association

Oregon
Oregon Board of Investigators
445 State Office Bldg.
800 NE Oregon Street #33
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 731-4359
FAX: (503) 731-4366
Web Site
State law
State P.I. Association

Pennsylvania
State law
State P.I. Association

Puerto Rico
Policia De Puerto Rico
GPO Box 70166
San Juan, PR 00936
(787) 793-1234

Rhode Island
State of Rhode Island
Providence Plantations
345 Harris Ave.
Providence, RI 29221
(401) 277-2000
State Law

South Carolina
State Law Enforcement Division
Regulatory Services
P. O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
(803) 737-9000
Fax: (803) 896-7041
State Law
State P.I. Association

South Dakota
No P.I. license, but business license through Deptartment of Revenue required.
Main Department of Revenue Office number: 800-829-9188
State Revenue Offices

Tennessee
Department of Commerce & Insurance
Private Protective Services Division
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1158
(615) 741-6382
Web Site
State P.I. Association

Texas
Texas Commission on Private Security
4930 S. Congress, Suite C-305
Austin, TX 78745
P. O. Box 13509
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-5545
FAX: (512) 452-2307
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association

Utah
Department of Public Safety & Law Enforcement Services
Bureau of Regulatory Licensing
4501 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
(801) 965-4461
State Law
State P.I. Association

Vermont
Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services
Office of Professional Regulation
109 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
(802) 828-2837
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association

Virginia
Department of Criminal Justice Services
Private Security Section
P.O. Box 10110
Richmond, Virginia 23240-9998
(804) 786-4700
State Law (click on Legislative & Regulator link, to left of screen)
State P.I. Association
Another State P.I. Association

Washington
Department of Licensing, Public Protection Unit
405 Black Lake Boulevard
P.O. Box 9649
Olympia, WA 98507-9649
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association
Pacific Northwest Association of Investigators

West Virginia
Secretary of State
Licensing Division
Private Investigator Licensing
Charleston, WV 25301
Web site
Info on requirements (Scroll down to S.)

Wisconsin
Department of Regulation & Licensing
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-0829
Web site
State P.I. Association

Wyoming
Regulated by local jurisdictions.

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