Business Defined | Initial License | Renewal License

Business Defined

According to the Code of Virginia § 9.1-138, an "'business' means any person engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, armored car personnel, security officers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, couriers, security canine handlers, security canine teams, detector canine handlers, detector canine teams, alarm respondents, central station dispatchers, electronic security employees, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians and their assistants to another person under contract, express or implied."

Initial License

Business licenses are issued for 24 months. These requirements can be found in 6 VAC 20-171-50.

Submit to the Department

1. Initial business license application (PSS_LA) and applicable non-refundable fee.
2. For each principal and supervisor of the applying business: fingerprint card, fingerprint processing application (PSS_FP) and applicable non-refundable fee. For more information, view the Fingerprints page.
3. Documentation verifying that the applicant has secured one of the following:
   • Surety bond in the amount of $100,000 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Virginia.
   • Certificate of insurance reflecting DCJS as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 and $300,000 issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia.
4. Irrevocable consent for service (PSS_IRC) for each non-resident applicant.
5. Identification number issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission for verification that the entity is authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth.
6. A physical address in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Administrative Code are kept and available for inspection by DCJS. A post office box is not considered a physical address.
7. Designate at least one individual as the compliance agent who is not designated as compliance agent for any other licensee, and who is certified or eligible for certification pursuant to 6 VAC 20-171-70. For more information, view the Compliance Agent page.
8. Designate on the license application the type of private security business license you are seeking. The initial business license fee includes one category. A separate fee will be charged for each additional category. The separate categories are identified as follows: Security Officers/Couriers (Armed and Unarmed); Private Investigators; Electronic Security; Armored Car; Personal Protection Specialists; and Security Canine Handlers. Alarm Respondents crossover into both the Security Officer and Electronic Security categories, therefore if you are licensed in either of these categories, you can provide these services without purchasing and additional category.

Required Forms

• PSS_LA - Initial Business License Application (.pdf, 3 pages)
• PSS_BD - Bond Form (.pdf, 1 page)
• PSS_IRC - Irrevocable Consent for Service Form (.pdf, 1 page)
• PSS_FP - Fingerprint Processing Application (.pdf, 2 pages)
  • The form must be submitted if you have not submitted fingerprints to DCJS within the last ninety (90) days.
  • List of acceptable documents to verify legal presence (.pdf, 1 page)
  • This form can be completed online using Watson, the Private Security Online Information System.

Renewal License

Business licenses are issued for 24 months. These requirements can be found in 6 VAC 20-171-60.

Applications should be received by DCJS at least 30 days prior to expiration.

Submit to the Department

1. Renewal business license application (PSS_LR) and applicable non-refundable fee.
2. For any new principal and supervisor of the applying businessfingerprint card, fingerprint processing application (PSS_FP) and applicable non-refundable fee. For more information, view the Fingerprints page.
3. Documentation verifying that the applicant has secured one of the following:
   • Surety bond in the amount of $100,000 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Virginia.
   • Certificate of insurance reflecting DCJS as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 and $300,000 issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia.

Required Forms

• PSS_LR - Renewal Business License Application (.pdf, 3 pages)
• PSS_FP - Fingerprint Processing Application (.pdf, 2 pages)
  • The form must be submitted if you have not submitted fingerprints to DCJS within the last ninety (90) days.
  • List of acceptable documents to verify legal presence (.pdf, 1 page)
  • This form can be completed online using Watson, the Private Security Online Information System.

Return to the Apply & Renew page.