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State Licensing Agencies
  • This list indicates there are ten states that do not require private investigators to be licensed statewide. Some cities in a few of these states require licenses to offer private investigation services, some only require business licenses and the remainder do not regulate the private investigation business at all.

    Alabama
    There is no state licensing for private investigation agencies in the state of Alabama. Check your local county/city rules.

    Alaska
    At this time there is no P.I. Licensing requirements in
    Alaska, although some cities, such as Fairbanks, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alaska.   There is a Process Server License requirement through Alaska DPS. The only License a P.I. needs in Alaska is a State Business License.

    Arizona
    Department of Public Safety, Licensing Division
    P.O. Box 6328
    Phoenix, AZ 85005
    602-223-2361
    Web Site: http://www.dps.state.az.us/mq/dpsmqpi.htm

    Arkansas
    Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies
    #1 State Police Plaza Dr.
    Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
    501-618-8600
    Cpl. Wes Adams, Administrator
    Web Site: http://www.state.ar.us/asp/asp.html
    State Law: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/32/title32.htm

    California
    Licensing Division, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
    400 R Street
    Sacramento, CA 95814 or P.O Box 989002                                                                                                                                                 
    West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002                                          

    916- 445-7724 or
    800-952-5210
    Web Site:  http://www.dca.ca.gov/bsis/
    State Law: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

    Colorado
    None required. There is no statewide control over persons who seek to operate a Detective business, nor any bonding requirements.

    Connecticut

    Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police
    294 Colony St.    Meriden, CT 06450-2098
    Web Site: http://www.state.ct.us/dps/special.htm

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

    Web Site:http://www.state.de.us/govern/agencies/pubsafe/dsp/indxdsp.htm

    District of Columbia
    Security Officers Management Branch, Metro Police
    Security Unit 2000
    14th St. NW
    Washington, DC 20009
    202-939-8722

    Florida
    Department of State, Division of Licensing
    P.O. Box 6687
    Tallahassee, FL 32314-6687
    904-488-5381

    Georgia
    State Board of Private Security Agencies
    166 Pryor St., SW
    Atlanta, GA 30303
    404-656-2282

    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
    There is no Licensing Regulatory Agency in the state of
    Idaho.  None required.

    Illinois
    Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
    320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
    Springfield, IL 62786
    Web Pages:  http://www.state.il.us/dpr/
    State Law:  http://www.state.il.us/dpr/who/ar\DETECTVE.HTM

    Indiana
    Private Detective Licensing Board
    100 N. Senae Ave., Rm 1021
    Indiana Government Center North
    Indianapolis, IN 46204-2246
    317-232-2980                                                                                                                                                     
     http://www.law.indiana.edu/codes/in/25/ch-25-30-1.html
                   
      

    Iowa

    Administrative Services Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety
    Wallace State Office Bldg.
    Des Moines, IA 50319
    515-281-3211 
     www.state.ia.us/government/dps/iowacode/cd9780a.htm

    Kansas

    Office of the Attorney General
    Kansas Judicial Center, 2nd Floor
    Topeka, KS 66612-1597

    Kentucky
    Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators
    P. O. Box 1360
    Frankfort, Kentucky  40602
    502/564-3296, Ext. 225
    Executive Director:  Nancy L. Black
    Board Administrator:  Wendy Satterly

    Louisiana
    Secretary of State
    P.O. Box 94125
    Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
    504-925-4704
    Web Pages: http://www.intersurf.com/~lsbpie

    Maine
    State Police Licensing Division
    State House Sta #164
    Augusta, ME 04333
    207-624-8775

    Maryland
    Maryland State Police, PI Licensing Division
    Jessup, MD
    410-799-0191, ext. 331                                                                                                                                        

    The full text of Title 13 regarding PI licensing in Maryland is available on the Maryland State Police website at:

    http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/UMS+State/MD_Resources/MDSP/license.html                                 

    Massachusetts
    Massachusetts State Police
    Special Licensing Unit
    20 Somerset St., Boston, MA 02108
    617-727-6128

    Michigan

    Department of State Police
    Private Security & Investigative Section
    7150 Harris Dr.
    Lansing, MI 48913
    517-322-1964

    Michigan                                                                                                                                                             
    Department of State Police                                                                                                                          
    Private Security & Investigative Section                                                                                                           

    4000 Collins                                                                                                                                                           
    PO Box 30635                                                                                                                                                
    Lansing, MI 48909-8135                                                                                                                                      
    517-336-3440


    Minnesota
    Department of Public Safety
    Private Detective & Protective Agent Services Board
    444 Cedar Street
    St. Paul, MN 55101
    612-215-1753
    State Law:http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/7506/

    Mississippi
    None required.

    Missouri
    P.O. Box 720
    Jefferson City, MO 65102
    No requirements at the state level, but Kansas City, St Louis, Joplin, St Joseph and Springfield require licensing.

    Montana

    Board of Private Security Patrolmen & Investigators
    Arcade Building
    11 North Jackson
    PO Box 200513
    Helena, MT 59620-0513
    406-841-2387   Fax: 406-841-2305

    ?????   Montana
    Board of Private Security Patrolmen & Investigators                                                                                             
    11 North Jackson                                                                                                                                             
    Arcade Building                                                                                                                                                     
    PO Box 200513                                                                                                                                               
    Helena, MT 59620-0513                                                                                                                                    
    406-444-3728  Fax: (406)444-1667
     

    Nebraska
    Secretary of State
    State Capitol, Suite 2300
    Lincoln, NE 68509
    402-471-2554
    Web Site: http://assist.ded.state.ne.us/privdet.html
    State Law: http://assist.ded.state.ne.us/privdet.html


    Nevada

    State of Nevada, Attorney General,
    Nevada Private Investigators License Board
    3476 Executive Pointe Way, Suite 14
    Carson City, NV 89706
    (775) 687-3225 Direct
    (775) 687-3226 Fax                                                                                                                                                   
    http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-648.html

    New Hampshire
    State Police
    Division of Licenses and Permits
    Hazen Dr., Concord, NH 03305
    603-271-3575

    New Jersey

    State Police
    Department of Law & Public Safety
    Private Detective Unit
    P. O. Box 7068
    W. Trenton, NJ 08688-0068
    09-882-2000                                                                                                                                                     
    Web Site: http://wnjpin.state.nj.us/OneStopCareerCenter/JobSeeker/LicensedCareers/lic851.htm


    New Mexico

    Bureau of Private Investigators
    P.O. Box 25101
    Santa Fe, NM 87504
    505-827-7172

    New York
    Department of State
    Division of Licensing Services
    84 Holland Avenue
    Albany, NY 12208-3490                                                                                                                                     


    North Carolina

    Private Protective Services Board
    P.O. Box 29500
    3320 Old Garner Rd.
    Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
    919-662-4387   Fax: 919-662-4459                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    Vice-Chairman M. Gregory Scott


    North Dakota

    Private Investigative & Security Board
    P.O. Box 7026
    Bismarck, ND 58505
    701-222-3063

    Ohio
    Private Investigator/Security Guard Section
    Ohio Department of Public Safety 
    1952 West Broad Street
    Columbus, OH 43223
    (614) 466-4130
    Web Site:  www.homelandsecurity.ohio.gov/hls.asp
    Email: pisg@dps.state.oh.us

    Oklahoma

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

    Oregon
    Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
    Private Security/Investigator Section
    4190 Aumsville Hwy SE
    Salem, Oregon 97317
    Phone: 503-378-8531
    Fax: 503-378-4600
     http://www.Oregon.gov/DPSST/PS/index.shtml                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
    The complete text of the Oregon Revised Statutes which covers private investigators can be found at: http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/703.html

    Pennsylvania
    State Law: http://www.apduli.com/pa_pd_act.html

    Puerto Rico
    Policia De Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Police
    GPO Box 70166
    San Juan, PR 00936
    809-781-0227

    Rhode Island                                                                                                                                                   
    Providence Plantations
    345 Harris Ave.
    Providence, RI 29221
    402-277-2000                                                                                                                                                       
    http://ww2.rilin.state.ri.us/generallaws/title5/5%2D5/s00003.htm

    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: http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/bil95-96/507.htm

    South Dakota
    The Department of Commerce and Regulation does not License Private Investigators.
    Business license through                                     
    Department of Revenue required.
    Main Department of Revenue Office number: 800-829-9188

    Tennessee
    Department of Commerce & Insurance
    Private Protective Services Division
    500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243-1158
    615-741-6382
    Web Site: http://www.state.tn.us/commerce/rblist.html


    Texas
    Texas Commission on Private Security
    4616 Howard Lane, Ste. 140, Austin, TX 78728
    512-463-3476 #4

    Texas Legislature has been called into Special Session. One of the subjects to be addressed will be the discontinuation of the present agency (Texas Commission on Private Security) that licenses security companies and investigative firms in Texas. This functions of the agency will move to the Texas Department of Public Safety (State Police Agency). TCOPS will be a division of Texas DPS, should this bill pass in special session.
    www.tcps.state.tx.us

    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: http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE53/53_09.htm

    Vermont
    Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services
    Office of Professional Regulation
    109 State St., Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
    802-828-2837
    State Law: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/title26/chap059.htm

    Virginia
    Department of Criminal Justice Services
    Private Security Section
    P.O. Box 10110
    Richmond, Virginia 23240-9998
    804-786-4700
    Licensing law and regulation can be viewed at:  http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm

    Washington
    Department of Licensing, Professional Licensing Services
    Private Detective Licensing
    2424 Bristol Ct., SW, Olympia, WA 98504
    P.O. Box 9045, Olympia, WA 98507-9045

    Web Site:  http://www.dol.wa.gov/ppu/pifront.htm Private Investigators
    Web Site http://www.dol.wa.gov/ppu/psgfront.htm Security Guards 

    West Virginia
    Secretary of State 
    Private Investigator Licensing Division
    Charleston, WV 25301
    Web Site: http://www.state.wv.us/sos/default.htm

    Wisconsin
    Department of Regulation & Licensing
    P.O. Box 8935
    Madison, WI 53708
    608 266-0829                                                                                                                                                        
    http://badger.state.wi.us:80/agencies/drl/Regulation/html/dod124.html

    Wyoming
    Regulated by local jurisdictions.
     

 

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Events

2008 Hit the Hill
and Board Meeting
Arlington, VA
September 10 - 12, 2008

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NCISS Interim Status Report 2007

Statement of Bruce H. Hulme, President of Special Investigations, Inc. Regarding Social Security Number High Risk Issues on March 30, 2006

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National Council of Investigation & Security Services Position Statement Acquisition and Use of Telephone Records

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