How to Verify a California Security Company's BSIS License
Updated: 3 days ago
To verify a California security company's license, get its Private Patrol Operator (PPO) number and look it up on the Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov. The result should show the company name, a current status, and an expiration date that has not passed. Checking takes about two minutes and protects you from hiring an unlicensed operator.
This guide is for property managers, HOA boards, developers, commercial owners and estate owners in the San Gabriel Valley who want to hire security the right way.
Who licenses security companies in California?
Security companies and guards in California are licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. BSIS issues several different licenses and permits, and it helps to know which is which:
Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license: The company license. A business that provides security guards or patrol services in California needs one.
Security guard registration (guard card): The individual license each guard must hold.
Firearms permit: Required for a guard to carry a firearm on duty, on top of the guard card.
Baton permit: Required for a guard to carry a baton on duty.
A company having a PPO license does not mean every guard it sends is licensed. You want to see both.
How do I look up a BSIS license?
Step 1: Ask for the PPO number
A licensed company should give you its PPO number without hesitation. Many put it on their website, proposals and contracts. For example, SGV Patrol is Licensed, BSIS PPO #17353.
Step 2: Search it on the DCA site
Go to search.dca.ca.gov, choose the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, and search by license number or business name.
Step 3: Check the details
Look for:
Status: It should read current or clear. Watch for expired, canceled, suspended or revoked.
Expiration date: Make sure it has not passed and will not lapse during your contract.
Name match: The licensed name should match the company on your contract.
Discipline or public records: Note any enforcement actions listed.
Step 4: Verify the guards, too
Ask for the name and guard card number of each guard assigned to your property, and look them up the same way. For armed posts, check that each guard also has a current firearms permit.
What are red flags when hiring a security company?
No license number on the proposal, website or contract
A name that does not match the license record
Pressure to pay in cash or skip a written contract
Guards who cannot show a guard card when asked
Big promises about results or exact arrival times
Very low pricing that only works if guards are paid off the books or untrained
An unlicensed or poorly run company can leave you exposed if something goes wrong on your property.
What questions should I ask before signing a security contract?
Licensing and training
What is your PPO number, and who is your qualified manager?
Will every guard on my site have a current guard card?
Do your armed guards hold current firearms permits?
How do you train guards for my type of property?
BSIS sets required training for security guards, including training before and soon after a guard starts work, plus yearly continuing education. Ask how the company tracks it.
Insurance and paperwork
Ask the company for a current certificate of insurance and have your own insurance agent or attorney review it. Ask to be named as an additional insured if your lease or lender requires it.
Reporting and supervision
Will I get written reports or incident logs?
Who supervises the guards, and how do I reach them?
How are calls handled after hours?
Services and coverage
Do you offer on-site guards, armed guards and mobile patrols?
Are overnight patrols available at my address?
Armed or unarmed: does the license matter?
Yes. An armed guard needs a guard card and a firearms permit, and the company must be licensed to provide them. If you are not sure which you need, our guide on armed vs. unarmed security guards breaks down the differences.
How do property types change what to look for?
HOAs: Look for patrol experience with gates, common areas and parking rules. See our HOA security patrol guide.
Construction sites: Ask about overnight coverage and how they handle equipment theft.
Shopping centers: Ask how they handle trespassing, loitering and after-hours checks.
Estates: Ask about discretion, background checks and armed options.
Frequently asked questions
Is a business license the same as a BSIS license?
No. A city business license lets a company operate in that city. A BSIS PPO license is the state license required to provide security guard and patrol services in California.
Can I check a security guard's license?
Yes. Guard registrations and firearms permits are searchable on the DCA license search. Ask for the guard's full name and license number.
What does PPO mean?
PPO stands for Private Patrol Operator, the BSIS company license for security guard and patrol businesses.
Is SGV Patrol licensed?
Yes. SGV Patrol is Licensed, BSIS PPO #17353, and has served Southern California since 2012. You can verify it yourself on the DCA license search.
When you are ready to hire, start on the SGV Patrol homepage or call for a security assessment.
Hire a licensed San Gabriel Valley security company
We are happy to share our license details and answer every question on this list before you sign anything. Learn more about our services on the SGV Patrol homepage, or call SGV Patrol at (626) 727-1592. Calls are answered 24/7.
About the author
Samantha Stephens writes for SGV Security Brief, the blog of SGV Patrol. SGV Patrol is Licensed, BSIS PPO #17353, and has served the San Gabriel Valley since 2012. You can verify the company license on the California DCA license search. Call (626) 727-1592 for a security assessment. Calls answered 24/7.
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