How to get a locksmith license in Nevada

Not from a state board. Nevada law requires every locksmith to get a permit from the sheriff of the county where the business is based. Each county sets its own rules and fees by ordinance.

NoState license, local rules apply

5 yearsBetween renewals

The short version for Nevada

Anyone whose work includes making, repairing or adjusting locks, or opening locks by means other than the maker intended.
Every 5 years.

Do you need a state license in Nevada?

Nevada does not issue a statewide locksmith license. Any license you need comes from the sheriff of the county where your business is based, and each county sets its own rules and fees.

Anyone whose work includes making, repairing or adjusting locks, or opening locks by means other than the maker intended.

The sheriff investigates each applicant, and the county ordinance sets the fees and other requirements.

How to get set up in Nevada, step by step

Apply to the sheriff of the county where your business is based.
Pass the sheriff's investigation and pay the county fee.
Renew the permit every 5 years.

What it costs in Nevada

There is no state license fee for locksmith work in Nevada. Ask the city or county where you work about any local fees.

Renewal

Renewal. Every 5 years.

Good to know in Nevada

Carry your permit with you at all times.

Once you are cleared to work

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 Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 655 (permits come from the county sheriff) and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.

NRS Chapter 655, locksmiths and safe mechanics

FAQ

Do you need a state locksmith license in Nevada?

Not from a state board. Nevada law requires every locksmith to get a permit from the sheriff of the county where the business is based. Each county sets its own rules and fees by ordinance. The sheriff investigates each applicant, and the county ordinance sets the fees and other requirements.

Can you do small jobs in Nevada without a license?

Anyone whose work includes making, repairing or adjusting locks, or opening locks by means other than the maker intended.

How often do you renew in Nevada?

Every 5 years.

Who issues locksmith licenses in Nevada?

There is no state locksmith license. The sheriff investigates each applicant, and the county ordinance sets the fees and other requirements. For state questions, the agency to ask is the Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 655 (permits come from the county sheriff).