- Someone who only duplicates existing keys is not considered a locksmith.
- Every two years.
Do you need a state license in California?
California licenses locksmith work at the state level through the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Someone who only duplicates existing keys is not considered a locksmith.
The California license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Locksmith Employee registration | Employees who do locksmith work for a licensed company |
Steps to get licensed in California
- Name the person who will manage the business day to day.
- Submit the application and fees, online through BreEZe or by mail.
- Complete a Live Scan background check after you apply.
- Send two passport quality photos, and your fictitious business name statement if you use one.
- Renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Locksmith Company license.
California locksmith exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in California
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in California
- Work over $500 at a single site also needs a contractor's license (C-28, C-61 or D-16).
- New employees get a 120 day temporary registration if they have no criminal convictions.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a locksmith near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.