Hiring an unlicensed security company in California puts your property, your liability coverage, and your legal standing at risk. If a guard from an unlicensed operator is injured on your site, or causes harm to someone else, you can be pulled into the lawsuit with no insurance backstop to protect you. Worse, an unlicensed company has no state oversight, no required training records, and no accountability if something goes wrong.
The good news is that California makes it simple to check. Every legitimate security guard company in the state must hold a Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), and that license status is public. This guide walks you through exactly how to verify a company’s license, what a valid license should show, and the red flags that should stop you from signing.
1. Understand What BSIS Licenses (and Why It Matters)
The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services is the California agency, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, that licenses and regulates the private security industry. Two credentials matter when you hire a security company.
The first is the Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license. This is the license the company itself must hold to legally provide contract security guard services in California. A business cannot lawfully send guards to your property without an active PPO number.
The second is the security guard registration, often called a guard card. Every individual guard must hold one. According to the BSIS Security Guard Registration fact sheet, applicants must be at least 18, pass a criminal background check through the California Department of Justice and the FBI, and complete Power to Arrest training before a registration is issued. Guards must also complete 32 hours of security officer skills training within their first six months and 8 hours of continuing training each year.
When you verify a company, you are confirming the PPO license. You can also confirm individual guard registrations if you want to check the people assigned to your site.
2. Use the Official DCA License Search
There is only one authoritative source: the state. Avoid third-party “lookup” sites that may show outdated or incomplete data.
Go to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov. This is the search tool BSIS now directs the public to use. From there:
1. Select the license type. For a security company, choose Private Patrol Operator. For an individual guard, choose Security Guard.
2. Enter the company name or, better, the PPO license number if you have it. Searching by number avoids confusion when several companies have similar names.
3. Review the result for license status, the exact business name, the address on file, and any disciplinary history.
If a company gives you a PPO number, run it yourself rather than trusting a screenshot. A reputable operator will hand over its PPO number without hesitation. OnGuard, for example, lists its PPO number (PPO #121717) publicly on its own website.
3. Confirm the License Is Active and Clean
Finding a record is not the same as finding a valid one. Check four things on the result page.
Status. The license must read as current or active. A status of expired, canceled, suspended, or revoked means the company cannot legally operate, regardless of what its salesperson tells you.
Name and address match. The business name and address on the BSIS record should match the company you are actually contracting with. A mismatch can signal that you are dealing with a different entity than the one that holds the license, or a company operating under a name that is not its own.
Expiration date. Note when the license expires. If it lapses during your contract term, the company is responsible for renewing it on time. Ask how they handle renewals.
Disciplinary actions. The record will show citations, fines, probation, or other enforcement actions. One minor administrative item years ago is not necessarily disqualifying, but a pattern of violations is a clear warning.
4. Verify Armed Guard Permits Separately
If your site needs armed guards, the company’s PPO license is not enough. Carrying a firearm on duty in California requires a separate BSIS exposed firearms permit held by the individual guard, on top of their guard registration. The same separate-permit rule applies to guards who carry a baton or tear gas.
Ask for the firearm permit numbers of the specific armed guards who will work your site, and confirm each permit is current through the DCA search. Do not accept a blanket assurance that “all our guards are licensed for firearms.” Permits are issued to individuals, and they expire.
5. Cross-Check Insurance and Bonding
Licensing tells you the company meets the state’s baseline. Insurance tells you whether you are protected if something goes wrong on your property.
Ask for a current certificate of insurance and confirm the coverage amount and that the policy is active. A serious incident, property damage, a guard injury, or a third-party claim, can far exceed a small policy. OnGuard carries a liability policy that pays up to $1.5 million per occurrence, covering property damage and bodily injury, which is the kind of backstop you want documented before guards ever set foot on site.
A licensed, insured, and bonded company should provide all three on request. If a company stalls or makes excuses, treat that as your answer.
6. What a Reputable California Security Company Looks Like
License verification is the floor, not the ceiling. Once you have confirmed the PPO license is active and clean, the next signs of a company worth hiring are practical ones.
Look for verifiable years in business, a real local office you can call, guards who carry valid California guard cards and pass drug testing, and documented onsite training. Ask whether the company provides written post orders, supervisor oversight, and a way to reach dispatch around the clock.
This is the standard OnGuard built its business on: BSIS-licensed guards with valid California guard cards, onsite field training, drug testing, 24/7 dispatch, and live supervisor tracking through its OnGuardLive app. When you are evaluating a security guard services provider, those operational details separate a company that simply holds a license from one that actually delivers on it. You can see how that plays out across specific services like armed security and construction site security, where compliance and supervision matter most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a security company is licensed in California?
Use the official Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov. Select Private Patrol Operator as the license type, enter the company name or PPO number, and confirm the status reads active with no disciplinary actions.
What is a PPO license in California?
A Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license is the credential a security company must hold from BSIS to legally provide contract guard services in California. It is different from an individual guard’s registration. Both should be valid.
Is a guard card the same as a company license?
No. A guard card is an individual security guard’s registration. A PPO license belongs to the company that employs guards. A company can have licensed individual guards but still lack a valid PPO license, so check both.
What should I do if a company will not give me its PPO number?
Treat it as a red flag and do not sign. Legitimate operators provide their PPO number freely, and many publish it on their website. If a company avoids the question, you cannot verify it is operating legally.
Do armed guards need a separate license in California?
Yes. Armed guards need a BSIS exposed firearms permit in addition to their guard registration, and it is issued to the individual. Verify each armed guard’s firearm permit separately through the DCA search.
Verifying a license takes a few minutes and protects you from far costlier problems later. OnGuard Security Guard Services is fully licensed, insured, and bonded, with BSIS-licensed guards serving businesses across California, and no long-term contracts required. Contact us for a free consultation and we will build a security plan that fits your property.