MONTANA SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Private Security Firm license (MCA 37-60-301(1)(a)). SB 454 (Ch. 481, L. 2023) combined the former proprietary and contract private security company licenses into this single license type. [1]

Who needs it. Any person providing private security guard services, armed private security guard services, or armed carrier services (MCA 37-60-101(8); 37-60-301(1)(a)). Not required for a security guard who is a sole proprietor or other entity whose owner/operator is the sole employee (ARM 24.182.301(3), eff. 12/6/2025). Statutory exemptions in MCA 37-60-105 include an unarmed, non-uniformed individual employed singly and exclusively by a non-security-firm employer guarding inside a structure not open to the public; an individual employed singly and exclusively by a retail merchant as a guard; and government officers/employees on official duty. [1]

Local licensing. Licensing of private security firms is by the State (MCA 37-60-301; DLI Private Security Program). Title 37, ch. 60 contains no county/city security-firm licensing scheme; the only local-government role found is MCA 37-60-408 (written permission of the local chief law-enforcement officer before installing/using an automatic dial-up alarm system that calls law enforcement), which concerns alarm systems, not guard companies.

Your guards. Each guard must hold an individual Private Security Guard license (MCA 37-60-301(1)(f)): age 18+, high school or equivalent, character and fitness, FBI/DOJ fingerprint check (37-60-303(1)-(2)), 16 hours of training (ARM 24.182.807) certified by the employing firm; $80 application fee; armed guards need a $50 armed endorsement. Firm issues ID cards and reports terminations within 10 days. [5]

Role

Designated manager (primary contact between the firm and the department). The former resident-manager license was eliminated by SB 454 (2023); ARM 24.182.523 (Resident Manager) repealed eff. 12/9/2023. [1]

Age & background

No age, education, experience, or fingerprint requirement is imposed on the firm or its designated manager by statute or rule. The 18+, high school, character-and-fitness and fingerprint requirements of MCA 37-60-303(1)-(2) apply only to individual license types (private investigator, firearms instructor, private security guard, process server, alarm installer). DLI states that companies are not fingerprinted. [17]

• Be lawfully organized and registered with the Montana Secretary of State or otherwise qualified to do business in Montana. [1]
• Application must include: proof of Secretary of State registration/filing (if required by ownership type or assumed name); ownership type and names/addresses of owners, partners, members or principal officers; names and contact info for the designated manager, principal office and any Montana branch office; a list of all types of firearms and weapons employees will use; and the insurance required by ARM 24.182.405. [5]
• Rule: update application information within 10 days of any change; notify the department within 10 days of termination of employment of individual security guards or alarm installers. [5]
• Statute: notify the department within 5 days of any change in officers or directors, name, address, employment, or other material change; the department may suspend or revoke on the change. Statute (5 days) controls over the rule (10 days) where they overlap. [1]
• License is not transferable. [1]
• License must be posted conspicuously at the principal place of business. [1]
• Every advertisement must contain the licensee's name, address and license number. [1]
• Firm must provide photo ID cards for the guards it employs, ensure they are worn/carried and shown on request, and collect them when employment ends. [5]
• Firm must provide compliant uniforms to all employed guards; security vehicles must display 'security' on each side. [5]
• Firm certifies completion of the 16-hour guard training for guards it employs or intends to employ. [5]
• Licensee is legally responsible for the good conduct of each employee, including the manager. [1]

Insurance

Minimum $500,000 occurrence-form commercial general liability including personal injury (ARM 24.182.405(1)(c)); plus firearms liability coverage if the firm employs armed guards (405(3)(d)). Carrier must be licensed in Montana, or in the state of purchase and covered by that state's insolvency fund; the department must be informed immediately of cancellation/lapse; coverage must be maintained at all times of active licensure. Statutory basis: MCA 37-60-202(3). [5]

Branch offices

No separate branch-office license or fee. SB 454 (2023) eliminated licensure of branch offices of private security companies (the old branch-office rule ARM 24.182.413 had already been repealed eff. 11/23/2006). The firm application must list any Montana branch office (ARM 24.182.525(1)(c)) and update within 10 days of change. [23]

• License application fee (all license types, incl. private security firm): $80 (2025-12-06 (ARM 24.182.401 as amended by MAR 2025-22)) [5]
• Annual license renewal fee (all license types): $80 (2025-12-06) [5]
• Late penalty fee: 100% of renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee ($80 penalty + $80 renewal = $160 for a late firm renewal): $80 [8]
• Agency firm checklist: application $80; renewal line reads 'Late $80.00 Renewal: $160.00' (labels ambiguous/transposed; consistent with rule only if read as $80 late penalty and $160 total late renewal; ARM 24.182.401 controls): $80 [14]
• Armed endorsement application/renewal (individual security guard or PI, not the firm): $50 [5]
• Superseded schedule (in effect 2023-12-09 to 2025-12-05): firm application $250, firm renewal $200 - NOT current: $250 (ended 2025-12-05) [10]
• DLI administrative fees: from 2027-01-01 (MAR 2026-94) the list adds electronic payment transaction fees and background check fees; amounts not stated in rule (2027-01-01) [8]
• Contingent litigation fund fee (HB 227, ARM 24.101.415): $5 on application or renewal, ONLY if the Private Security Program is on DLI's annual 'covered' list: $5 (2025-07-01) [8]
• All fees nonrefundable [8]

1. Register/qualify the business with the Montana Secretary of State. [14]
2. Obtain $500,000 occurrence-form CGL including personal injury (plus firearms liability if armed guards will be employed); DLI provides a sample Certificate of Liability Insurance on its Forms page. [14]
3. Apply through DLI's online licensing portal (eBiz). [14]
4. Submit the ARM 24.182.525 information: SOS proof, ownership type and owners/officers, designated manager, principal and Montana branch offices, firearms/weapons list, insurance. [5]
5. Pay the non-refundable $80 fee; payment starts staff review. [13]
6. Incomplete applications remain open for one year (agency page); rule says an incomplete application expires one year after initial submission. [13]
7. Department issues the license on verification of qualifications, subject to renewal/termination under MCA 37-1-141. [1]

Renewal

Annual; renewal date March 1 for all Private Security Program licenses (ARM 24.101.413 table still labels the category 'Private Security Company'); renewal opens 60 days before (January 1). Late renewals owe a 100% late penalty. A lapsed license may be reactivated within 45 days; an expired license within two years; a license not renewed within two years terminates (ARM 24.101.408). No continuing education (ARM 24.182.2101-.2108 repealed). [8]

Disqualifiers & waivers

No firm-specific disqualifier list. A criminal conviction is not an automatic bar (MCA 37-1-203); denial is possible where the conviction relates to the occupation and the applicant is not sufficiently rehabilitated (criteria in ARM 24.101.406). Unprofessional conduct under MCA 37-1-410 (standardized by HB 435, 2025) and ARM 24.182.2301 are grounds for discipline/denial; a firm license may be suspended or revoked on unreported/material changes (MCA 37-60-314). [3]

• 2025-07-01SB 198 (Ch. 170, L. 2025) revised MCA 37-60-101 definitions: private security guard no longer limited to persons employed by a private security firm (enables licensure of guards not employed by a firm); electronic security firm / alarm installer definitions revised. 2025 SB 198 (Ch. 170, L. 2025); MCA 37-60-101 [24]
• 2025-10-01HB 414 (Ch. 279, L. 2025) amended MCA 37-60-303 (PI provisional license now subject to new uniform provisional-license statute 37-1-144); no change to firm requirements. 2025 HB 414 (Ch. 279, L. 2025); MCA 37-60-303(4), 37-1-144 [28]
• 2025-10-01HB 435 (2025) standardized unprofessional conduct for department licensing boards and programs (MCA 37-1-410); ARM 24.182.2301 trimmed in MAR 2025-22. 2025 HB 435; MCA 37-1-410; ARM 24.182.2301 [10]
• 2025-07-01HB 227 (Ch. 129, L. 2025): contingent litigation fund; $5 fee on application or renewal for licensees of 'covered' boards/programs (3-year rolling average revenue of $200,000 or less); implemented by ARM 24.101.415. 2025 HB 227 (Ch. 129, L. 2025); ARM 24.101.415 [27]
• 2025-10-01HB 276 (Ch. 247, L. 2025): licensees and applicants must keep a current mailing address with DLI and report changes within 30 days; optional consent to email service of disciplinary notices. 2025 HB 276 (Ch. 247, L. 2025) [13]
• 2025-12-06MAR 2025-22 adopted: fees cut to $80 application / $80 renewal for all license types (firm was $250/$200); exam fees removed from fee rule; 'employed' defined; sole-proprietor guard with no employees excluded from firm licensure; insurance, ID card, uniform and guard-training-certification rules revised. ARM 24.182.301, .401, .403, .405, .407, .807, .2301 (MAR 2025-22) [5]
• 2026-04-11New ARM 24.182.410 Substantial Equivalency (applications from substantially equivalent states routine as to education, examination, experience; DLI list has no firm category). ARM 24.182.410 (MAR 2025-404) [5]
• 2027-01-01MAR 2026-94 adopted: ARM 24.101.403 adds electronic payment transaction fees and background check fees as DLI administrative fees; ARM 24.101.404 (public posting of discipline) revised. ARM 24.101.403, 24.101.404 (MAR 2026-94) [8]

• MCA Title 37, ch. 60 (37-60-101 to 37-60-411) — Private Investigators, Private Security and Fire Entities, and Process Servers [1]
• MCA 37-60-301 — Private security license required -- process server registration required -- armed endorsement [1]
• MCA 37-60-303 — Private security services licensure qualifications -- fingerprinting -- insurance [1]
• MCA 37-60-304 — Application form and content [1]
• MCA 37-60-314 — Nontransferability of license -- record changes [1]
• MCA Title 37, ch. 1 (Part 2 Licensure of Criminal Offenders; 37-1-141; 37-1-144; Part 4 Uniform Regulations for Licensing Programs Without Boards) — Professions and Occupations - General Provisions [3]
• ARM Title 24, ch. 182 (esp. 24.182.301,.401,.403,.405,.407,.410,.505,.525,.807,.2301) — Private Security Program [5]
• ARM 24.101.401-24.101.417 (esp..402,.403,.406,.408,.413,.415) — Standardized Rules for Boards and Programs [8]

1. Montana Code Annotated 2025, Title 37, Chapter 60 (Private Investigators, Private Security and Fire Entities, and Process Servers) - all sections · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. Montana Code Annotated 2025, Title 37, Chapter 60 · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. Montana Code Annotated 2025, Title 37, Chapter 1 (selected: Part 2, Part 4, 37-1-131, -134, -141, -144, -145, -304) · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. Montana Code Annotated 2025, Title 37, Chapter 1 selected sections · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. Administrative Rules of Montana, Chapter 24.182 - Private Security Program (all rules, version history, current/future text) · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. Administrative Rules of Montana, Chapter 24.182 · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. ARM 24.182.301,.401,.405,.514,.807 - superseded versions in effect 2023-12-09 to 2025-12-05 · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. Administrative Rules of Montana, Subchapter 24.101.4 - Standardized Rules for Boards and Programs (incl. MAR 2026-94 versions effective 2027-01-01) · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. Administrative Rules of Montana, Subchapter 24.101.4 · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. MAR Notice No. 2025-22.1, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Private Security Program rule changes due to 2023 and 2025 legislation (Oct. 10, 2025); adopted eff. 12/6/2025 per ARM history · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. MAR Notice No. 2026-94.1, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - licensing fees and public notice of discipline (July 10, 2026); adopted eff. 1/1/2027 per ARM history · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. MAR Notice No. 2026-180.1 - proposed DLI procedural rules implementing HB 261 (2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. Montana DLI Private Security Program - home page · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. Montana DLI Private Security Program - Private Security Firm licensing requirements & application checklist · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. Montana DLI Private Security Program - Private Security Guard licensing requirements & application checklist · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. Montana DLI Private Security Program - Exam Information · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. Montana DLI Private Security Program - FAQ's · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. Montana DLI Private Security Program - License Information (renewal deadline) · retrieved 2026-11-09
19. Montana DLI Private Security Program - Forms · retrieved 2026-11-09
20. Montana DLI Private Security Program - Rule Notices · retrieved 2026-11-09
21. Montana DLI Substantial Equivalency Determinations (Private Security Program section) · retrieved 2026-11-09
22. Montana DLI Licensing Boards & Programs Report FY2024-2025 (Private Security Program page; 2025 Legislation) · retrieved 2026-11-09
23. 2023 SB 454 (Ch. 481, L. 2023) enrolled bill - repealing the Board of Private Security; transferring authority to a department program · retrieved 2026-11-09
24. 2025 SB 198 (Ch. 170, L. 2025) enrolled bill · retrieved 2026-11-09
25. SB198-2025 · retrieved 2026-11-09
26. 2025 HB 414 (Ch. 279, L. 2025) enrolled bill · retrieved 2026-11-09
27. 2025 HB 227 (Ch. 129, L. 2025) enrolled bill - contingent litigation fund · retrieved 2026-11-09
28. Montana Legislature LAWS API - session law chapters and effective dates for 2025 SB 198, HB 414, HB 227, HB 276, HB 246, HB 872 · retrieved 2026-11-09
29. Montana Legislature LAWS API - sessions list · 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.