Private Investigator license requirements by state

Private Investigator licensing requirements can vary by state and by the services your company provides. Use this guide to compare possible requirements across jurisdictions, then confirm applicability, fees, and renewal timing with the issuing regulator.

Compare all 50 states and DC

Estimated entries are not human-approved evidence. How to read these statuses

Jurisdiction overview

A research starting point for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Industry license information by state and District of Columbia
State	License or requirement	Regulator listed	Estimated fee	Renewal	Status
AlabamaAL	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Alabama Private Investigation Board	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
AlaskaAK	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Alaska state licensing agency	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
ArizonaAZ	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Arizona Department of Public Safety - Licensing Unit	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
ArkansasAR	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Arkansas State Police - Regulatory Services Division	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
CaliforniaCA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
ColoradoCO	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) - Office of Private Investigator Licensure	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
ConnecticutCT	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) - Special Licensing and Firearms Unit	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
DelawareDE	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Delaware State Police - Professional Licensing Section	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
FloridaFL	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) - Division of Licensing	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
GeorgiaGA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
HawaiiHI	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Hawaii DCCA - Board of Private Detectives and Guards	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
IdahoID	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Idaho state licensing agency	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
IllinoisIL	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
IndianaIN	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Board	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
IowaIA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Iowa Department of Public Safety - Administrative Services Division	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
KansasKS	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Kansas Office of the Attorney General - Private Detective Licensing Unit	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
KentuckyKY	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
LouisianaLA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners (LSBPIE)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MaineME	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Maine State Police - Licensing Division	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MarylandMD	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Maryland State Police - Licensing Division	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MassachusettsMA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Massachusetts State Police - Certification Unit	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MichiganMI	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Professional Investigator Licensure	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MinnesotaMN	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MississippiMS	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Mississippi state licensing agency	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MissouriMO	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Missouri Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
MontanaMT	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Montana Board of Private Security (Department of Labor & Industry)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
NebraskaNE	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Nebraska Secretary of State - Private Detective Licensing	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
NevadaNV	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Nevada Private Investigator's Licensing Board (PILB)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
New HampshireNH	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	New Hampshire State Police - Permits and Licensing Unit	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
New JerseyNJ	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	New Jersey State Police - Private Detective Unit	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
New MexicoNM	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department - Private Investigations Advisory Board	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
New YorkNY	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	New York Department of State - Division of Licensing Services	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
North CarolinaNC	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	North Carolina Private Protective Services Board (PPSB)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
North DakotaND	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
OhioOH	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Ohio Department of Public Safety - Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
OklahomaOK	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
OregonOR	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
PennsylvaniaPA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas (county-level licensing under the Private Detective Act of 1953)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
Rhode IslandRI	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Local city/town councils (licensing under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-5)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
South CarolinaSC	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
South DakotaSD	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	South Dakota state licensing agency	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
TennesseeTN	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance - Private Investigation & Polygraph Commission	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
TexasTX	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Texas Department of Public Safety - Private Security Program (RSD)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
UtahUT	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Utah Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
VermontVT	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Vermont Office of Professional Regulation - Board of Private Investigative and Security Services	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
VirginiaVA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
WashingtonWA	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) - Private Investigator Program	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
West VirginiaWV	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	West Virginia Secretary of State - Licensing Division	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
WisconsinWI	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
WyomingWY	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	Wyoming state licensing agency	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
District of ColumbiaDC	Private Investigator licensing varies by activity	DC Metropolitan Police Department - Security Officers Management Branch (SOMB)	Estimated range: $150 to $700	Confirm with regulator	Estimated Last reviewed: 2026-11-02

Frequently asked questions

Do licensing requirements vary by state?

Yes. State rules can differ, and cities or counties may add permits or registrations. A license in one state does not automatically authorize work in another.

Does every business in this industry need the same license?

No. Requirements depend on the services offered, business structure, location, employees, and sometimes the credentials held by individual workers.

Who issues industry licenses?

The issuing office depends on the license. It may be a state licensing board or agency, a local government department, or a federal agency for a specific regulated activity.

How much does a business license cost?

Fees vary by license, jurisdiction, and application type. Check the issuing regulator’s current fee schedule for the applicable amount.

How often do licenses need to be renewed?

Renewal schedules vary. Check the license record and regulator instructions for the renewal period, due date, continuing education, and any required forms.

What should I do after finding a possible requirement?

Open the issuing regulator’s guidance and confirm that the requirement applies to your services and location. Then review the current eligibility rules, filing steps, fees, and renewal instructions before taking action.

Want it filed for you? Talk to a licensing expert

Top States for This License

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