MARYLAND SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Security Guard Agency License (Maryland Security Guards Act, BOP Title 19; holder is a 'licensed security guard agency'). A combined 'Dual Private Detective/Security Guard Agency' license is also offered by MSP. [1]

Who needs it. Any person (individual or firm) that conducts, or solicits to engage in, a business that provides security guard services in Maryland (BOP §§19-301, 19-601). 'Security guard services' = any activity performed for compensation as a security guard to protect any individual or property, except marine guards/ship watchmen, special police officers acting under Public Safety Title 3 Subtitle 3 or Baltimore City PLL §16-16, and unarmed bar/tavern/restaurant employees. Not a 'security guard agency': a person primarily engaged in owning/maintaining/managing property, and a 'security guard employer' (in-house only), which instead registers with MSP as a Security Guard/Special Police Employer (no fee per MSP). [1]

Local licensing. Licensing is state-level: BOP §19-201 makes the Secretary of State Police responsible for licensing security guard agencies statewide, and §19-601 bars operating without the MSP license. No county or municipal security-agency license is referenced in any state primary source reviewed (statute, COMAR, MSP pages). Baltimore City Public Local Laws §16-16 (special police) appears only as an exclusion from 'security guard services'.

Your guards. Every guard the agency provides must hold an MSP Security Guard Certification, unless the agency has filed the individual's application, fingerprints and fee and MSP has not disapproved it, or the individual is an MPTSC-certified police officer; from Oct. 1, 2026 also excepted are out-of-state licensees covered by the State Government §§10-14A-03/10-14B-03 portability provisions. Guard requirements: age 18+, good moral character, 12 hours of MPTSC-approved initial training (or police employment in the prior 3 years), fingerprints, $15 fee; the application is submitted to the agency for forwarding to MSP. Renewal every 3 years: 8 hours continuing training, $10 fee; under 2026 Ch. 238 (eff. Oct. 1, 2026) certifications expire on the last day of the holder's birth month, renewal is due before expiration, the $5/day guard late fee is repealed, and the agency's 90-day pre-expiration declaration (§19-404.1(g)) is repealed. Agency duties: notify MSP within 48 hours of a guard's arrest for a crime of violence/disqualifying crime; forward use-of-force reports to MSP within 48 hours of receiving the guard's form. Since January 2026 agencies may also apply for and employ special police officers (PS §3-303(a)(5)). NOTE: MSP's guard page still shows the 90-days-before renewal deadline and $5/day late fee (stale after Ch. 238). Guard page: https://mdsp.maryland.gov/firearms-permits-professional-licenses/professional-licenses/security-guard-certification [1]

Role

Individual applicant; for a firm, the 'representative member' - a firm member appointed to make the application on behalf of the firm, who completes the application, is responsible for the firm's compliance, and (with the individual licensee) supervises the offices. [1]

Experience

One of: (1) 5 yrs full-time private detective certified under BOP Title 13 (MSP: must be Maryland experience; out-of-state PI experience does not count); (2) 5 yrs full-time police officer with an organized police agency + MPTSC-recognized police training; (3) 3 yrs investigative experience as a detective while a police officer; (4) 3 yrs investigative capacity in a US/State/county/municipal law-enforcement unit + MPTSC-approved police training; (5) 5 yrs full-time fire investigator (State/county/municipal fire dept or LE agency) + MPTSC or MFRETC certified training; or (6) 5 yrs full-time correctional supervisor in a Maryland correctional facility + Correctional Training Commission training. [1]

Age & background

Individual applicant or representative member must be at least 25 years old. Individual applicant, or each firm member, must be of good character and reputation. State and national (FBI) fingerprint-based criminal history check through CJIS Central Repository. [1]

• Maryland-licensed-PI experience only: out-of-state private detective experience does not satisfy the 5-year PI experience route. [5]
• Agency license does not authorize the license holder to personally work as a guard; the holder must separately obtain an individual security guard certification to personally provide guard services. [5]
• Offices must be supervised by the individual licensee or the representative member, who must be investigated and approved by the Secretary; a firm must re-appoint a representative member within 90 days of a vacancy (180 days if caused by death/incapacitating injury) or the license is automatically suspended. [1]
• Licensee must maintain an office in Maryland and keep in it all records made in the State relating to Maryland business. [1]
• Nonresident applicants must file with the Maryland Secretary of State a consent to service of process (and, for a firm, a certified board resolution authorizing the representative member), with copies to the Secretary of State Police. [1]
• Trade/fictitious name or trademark may not be confusingly similar to another licensee's. [1]
• Character references: statute requires at least three names of individuals who can attest to character (for each firm member if a firm). COMAR 29.04.01.01D (2007) instead requires three NOTARIZED recommendations prepared by a reputable property-owning citizen of the county of residence/business; the statute's lesser 'names' requirement is the current law and MSP's portal page does not mention notarized recommendations. [1]
• COMAR additionally lists, as application contents: Maryland sales tax account verification, articles of incorporation/board resolutions for firms, trade name approved by SDAT, and a draft badge and patch for MSP approval (2007 regulation; MSP page refers generally to 'tax verification documentation, the company articles of organization or other documentation as required'). [2]

Insurance

Commercial general liability insurance including errors and omissions and completed operations: $1,000,000 total aggregate minimum if the agency employs five or more security guards; $500,000 total aggregate minimum if it employs fewer than five (two-tier rule enacted by 2023 Ch. 763 / SB 760, effective June 1, 2024). Proof must accompany the application if the applicant intends to employ one or more guards; cancellation must be reported by agency and insurer; lapse = automatic suspension until proof is filed. Workers' compensation insurance certificate required at renewal (§19-309(a)(3)); COMAR.03B(5) requires a copy of the WC policy if the agency employs more than one individual unless exempt. CONFLICT: COMAR 29.04.01.01E (2007) states only 'not less than $1,000,000' for applicants employing at least five guards and is silent on fewer than five; statute §19-504 controls (MSP employer page matches statute). [1]

Surety bond

No surety bond requirement exists in BOP Title 19, COMAR 29.04.01 or the MSP agency page (conclusion from complete reading - absence of any bond provision). The financial-responsibility requirement is commercial general liability insurance under §19-504 (see insurance). [1]

Branch offices

Each proposed branch office is listed on the application and receives its own branch office certificate (displayed in that office). Adding a branch office or changing an office address/phone requires written notice within 5 days with the agency and branch certificates; $15 processing fee per new/duplicate certificate (COMAR 29.04.01.10). [1]

• Original application fee: $200 individual (MSP: 'Individual unincorporated'); $375 firm ('Firm incorporated'). Statute, COMAR.01B and MSP fee table agree. [1]
• Renewal fee (3-year term): $200 individual; $400 firm, plus the cost of the FBI fingerprint record check and any late fee. Statute, COMAR.03B(3) and MSP fee table agree. [1]
• Dual Private Detective/Security Guard Agency - original: $375 (unincorporated) / $750 (incorporated). COMAR.01B(3)-(4) and MSP fee table agree. [2]
• Dual Private Detective/Security Guard Agency - renewal: $400 (individual unincorporated) / $800 (firm incorporated). Appears only on the MSP fee table (no statutory or COMAR figure). [3]
• Late fee: $10 per day if the §19-309 renewal statements/documents are not received at least 15 days before license expiration. [1]
• Fingerprint record checks (separate from application fee; firm pays for each firm member): COMAR.01C states $24 FBI and $18 CJIS (2007 figures); statute refers to the fee under Crim. Proc. §10-221(b)(7) plus the FBI mandatory processing fee. Current amounts not confirmed. [2]
• Ink fingerprint cards (non-Maryland residents): $30.00 [3]
• Corporate Officer for PD/SG Agency (original and renewal): no fee (N/A). [3]
• Duplicate principal/branch office certificate, or certificate for an added or relocated branch/principal office: $15 per certificate. [2]
• Payment: Visa or MasterCard, collected electronically in the Licensing Portal; application fees are non-refundable and do not include fingerprint fees. [3]
• Employee guard certification (submitted through the agency): $15 original application fee (statute); $10 renewal fee. [1]

1. Livescan fingerprints (MD residents) to CJIS and FBI using MSP agency authorization number 9400082495 / ORI MDMSP6000; prints valid 30 days. Non-residents request ink cards from the Professional Licensing Unit. Sign the FBI Privacy Act Statement. [3]
2. Assemble pre-application documents: proof of CGL insurance under §19-504, digital passport-style color photo taken within 30 days, tax verification, articles of organization; nonresidents add §19-505 consent. [3]
3. Create/log into the MSP Licensing Portal, complete the application, upload documents, and pay the fee electronically. [3]
4. MSP reviews for completeness in 5-10 business days; incomplete applicants are emailed and must respond within 15 days or the application is cancelled; decision within 90 days. [3]
5. Application is signed under oath by the individual, or by the representative member for a firm (with proof of membership), and lists principal and branch offices, trade/fictitious names and any trademark facsimile, with at least three character-reference names. COMAR.01A(2)/.01I (all firm members sign; representative reports in person to the Licensing Division) reflect the pre-2025 paper process; MSP converted all professional licensing applications to electronic Licensing Portal submission in January 2025. [1]
6. 5a. MSP portal conversion (context for step 5). [19]
7. On approval MSP issues an agency license certificate and a branch office certificate for each branch; certificates must be displayed conspicuously at the respective office. [1]

Renewal

3-year term, staggered by the Secretary; COMAR: expiration dates are January 31 or July 31 (MSP: 'expiring in either January or July'). Statute: Secretary electronically sends notice at least 1 month before expiration (MSP page says at least 90 days - agency practice, statute is the floor). Renewal application and §19-309 statements due at least 15 days before expiration, else $10/day late fee. Renewal requires: fee ($200 individual / $400 firm), FBI fingerprint check cost, a new set of fingerprints, two photographs, certification that withholding and Social Security taxes and other State/federal employee obligations were paid for the past 3 years, insurance carrier certificate for commercial general and workers' compensation insurance, and Comptroller certificate that State income tax was paid for the past 3 years. COMAR.03B also requires a list of guards hired since the last renewal and a list of all firm members. [1]

Disqualifiers & waivers

No enumerated criminal-conviction bar for the agency licensee in Title 19; the standard is 'good character and reputation' (applicant or every firm member) plus a State and FBI fingerprint check. Grounds for denial, reprimand, fine, suspension or revocation (§19-313): fraud/deception in obtaining or using a license; aiding fraudulent guard certification; unlicensed solicitation, operation or advertising; false statements about employees or in renewal/annual statements/reports; failure to report firm-member or office-address changes; failure to maintain §19-504 insurance; any other Title 19 violation. Acts of principals, agents or employees may be imputed to the licensee. Hearing under the APA with at least 10 days' written notice (§19-315); COMAR.06: informal review, then 30 days from the denial letter to request an OAH hearing. Fines: COMAR.07 penalty matrix (Categories A-D); statute caps fines at $5,000 per violation / $10,000 aggregate 'for a 2-year license term'. Criminal penalty for any Title 19 violation: misdemeanor, up to $1,000 and/or 1 year. No waiver procedure was found. (Guard-level disqualifiers under §19-402/§19-408 relate to employee certification, not the agency license.) [1]

• 2025-04-22 (approved April 22, 2025; takes effect from date of enactment)Annual Corrective Bill: technical retabulation of the §19-304(b)(1) agency application-fee subsection ($200 individual / $375 firm unchanged). 2025 Md. Laws Ch. 142 (SB 784); BOP §19-304(b)(1) [12]
• see previous entry(Ch. 142 corrective-bill text identifying the §19-304(b)(1) fix.) 2025 Md. Laws Ch. 142 [12]
• 2025-10-01Definition of 'security guard employer' amended to exclude video lottery operators, sports wagering facility licensees and health care facilities; cannabis agents authorized to provide security guard services exempted from a separate cannabis-agent background check. Cross-filed HB 1347 = Ch. 702. 2025 Md. Laws Ch. 703 (SB 299) / Ch. 702 (HB 1347); BOP §19-101(m) [10]
• 2026-01-15 (30 days after 2025-12-16 veto override, Md. Const. Art. II §17(d)); bill text date 2025-10-01 supersededLicensed security guard agencies may apply for appointment of special police officers to protect property owned or leased by their clients (PS §3-303(a)(5)). Vetoed by the Governor; veto overridden December 16, 2025. Bill's effective-date clause says Oct. 1, 2025, but Md. Const. Art. II §17(d) makes a bill enacted over veto effective 30 days after the override or on the bill's date, whichever is later => legally effective January 15, 2026. MSP modified the Licensing Portal in January 2026. 2025 Spec. Sess. Md. Laws Ch. 16 (SB 455 of 2025 RS); Public Safety §3-303(a)(5); Md. Const. Art. II §17(d) [23]
• see previous entry(Text of SB 455 amendment and override date.) 2025 Spec. Sess. Ch. 16 [11]
• 2026-01MSP Licensing Portal modified to let security guard agencies employ and submit Special Police Officer applications (implementation of SB 455). MSP Security Guard Agency License page, 'Process updates/changes' [3]
• 2026-10-01Guard certification renewal overhaul: certifications expire on the last day of the holder's birth month; MSP must e-mail renewal notices 90, 60 and 30 days before expiration; renewal due before expiration (not 90 days before); $5/day guard renewal late fee repealed; agency/security-guard-employer 90-day pre-expiration declaration (former §19-404.1(g)) repealed. NOTE: the MGA 'with enactments' online text of §19-404.1 still displays subsection (g) and MSP's guard page still lists the $5/day late fee - the chapter law controls. 2026 Md. Laws Ch. 238 (SB 365); BOP §19-404.1 [13]
• 2026-10-01License portability: Foreign Service members and spouses (Ch. 493) and active service members and spouses (Ch. 694) holding another state's license may practice in Maryland; §19-401(a) amended so an agency may supply such individuals as guards without MSP certification (MGA codified text cites §§10-14A-03 and 10-14B-03). Agency licensing sections (§19-301 et seq.) not amended. 2026 Md. Laws Ch. 493 (SB 418); Ch. 694 (SB 242); BOP §19-401(a) [14]
• 2026-07-01MSP must study the employment and use of special police officers and report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2026 (no direct licensing change; may prompt 2027 legislation). 2026 Md. Laws Ch. 531 (HB 1152) [16]
• 2024-06-01 (statute); 2025-01-01 (MSP implementation)Context (pre-window, now in force): 2023 Ch. 763 (SB 760) - two-tier CGL insurance, security guard employers, mandatory 12-hour initial / 8-hour continuing guard training, use-of-force reporting. Chapter effective-date clause is June 1, 2024; MSP pages say 'Effective: 1/1/2025', which is the date MSP implemented mandatory training (Advisory LD-PLU-24-003). 2023 Md. Laws Ch. 763 (SB 760) [17]

• Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §§19-101 to 19-701 — Maryland Security Guards Act (Title 19, Security Guards) [1]
• Md. Code, Public Safety §3-303(a)(5) — Special police officers - licensed security guard agencies may apply for appointment (added by 2025 Spec. Sess. Ch. 16 / SB 455) [9]
• Md. Const. Art. II §17(d) — Effective date of a bill enacted over the Governor's veto (used to fix the SB 455 effective date) [23]
• COMAR 29.04.01.01-.12 — Security Guard Agency Licenses and Security Guard Certifications (chapter revised eff. July 30, 2007; authority BOP §19-202) [2]

1. Maryland Code, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 19 - Maryland Security Guards Act (§§19-101 to 19-701), with 2026 enactments · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. COMAR 29.04.01 Security Guard Agency Licenses and Security Guard Certifications · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. Maryland State Police - Security Guard Agency License (Licensing Division web page, incl. fee table) · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. Maryland State Police - Security Guard Certification (Licensing Division web page) · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. MSP Licensing Division Advisory LD-PLU-25-003 (May 20, 2025) - Agency License Holders Performing PD/SG Services and Agency Experience Requirements · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. MSP Licensing Division Advisory LD-PLU-24-003 REVISED (Jan. 24, 2025) - Mandatory Security Guard Training · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. MSP Licensing Division Advisory LD-SSU-15-001 (Apr. 29, 2015) - Licensure of Security Guard Agencies and Security Guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. MSP Licensing Division Advisory LD-SSU-15-002 (July 14, 2015) - Security Guard - Scope of Certification · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. Maryland Code, Public Safety Article §§3-301 to 3-305 - Special Police Officers (with enactments) · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. Chapter 703, 2025 Laws of Maryland (SB 299) - Security Guards and Security Guard Employers - Registration, Certification, and Regulation · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. Chapter 16, 2025 Special Session Laws (SB 455 of 2025 RS) - Security Guard Agencies - Special Police Officers - Application for Appointment (veto override) · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. Chapter 142, 2025 Laws of Maryland (SB 784) - Annual Corrective Bill (excerpt) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. Chapter 238, 2026 Laws of Maryland (SB 365) - Security Guards - Certification Renewal - Requirements · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. Chapter 493, 2026 Laws of Maryland (SB 418) - Professional Licensing Portability - Members of the Foreign Service and Spouses (excerpt) · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. Chapter 694, 2026 Laws of Maryland (SB 242) - Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act (excerpt) · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. Chapter 531, 2026 Laws of Maryland (HB 1152) - Department of State Police - Special Police Officers - Study · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. Chapter 763, 2023 Laws of Maryland (SB 760) - Security Guard Agencies, Security Guard Employers, and Security Guards - Standards and Certifications · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. MSP - Security Guard/Special Police Employer page · retrieved 2026-11-09
19. MSP - Special Police Officer License page · retrieved 2026-11-09
20. MGA Open Legislative Data, 2025 & 2026 Regular Sessions (filtered to Title 19 / security guard / special police bills) · retrieved 2026-11-09
21. MSP Form 29-56 Consent to Service upon the Secretary of the State of Maryland · retrieved 2026-11-09
22. Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions - Security Guard Training · retrieved 2026-11-09
23. Constitution of Maryland, Art. II §17 (veto; effective date of bills enacted over veto) - Maryland State Archives, Maryland Manual · retrieved 2026-11-09

Compiled from the primary government sources above, retrieved on the dates shown. This page is a research summary, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the issuing authority before you file.