NEW HAMPSHIRE SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Security guard agency license (RSA 106-F:3, I; Saf-C 2205.04(b)). The fee section RSA 106-F:7, I calls the same business license a 'security guard service license'. The rules split it into an 'agency license' (service employing more than one licensed person; $350) and an 'individual license' (one-person service titled in the licensee's name; $150). Original application form: DSSP 258 'Agency Application for Private Investigative, Security Guard, or Bail Recovery Agency License'. The prototype name 'Private Security Agency License' is not the statutory or rule term. [1]

Who needs it. Any business entity that furnishes or employs security guards or other persons to protect individuals or their property from injury or theft, including safe transport of money/valuable documents and security patrols of homes, businesses or industrial plants (RSA 106-F:2, XIV). 'Doing business' includes advertising in NH or soliciting work, clients or customers in or from NH (106-F:2, V). Excluded (106-F:4, IV): an unarmed security employee who is a direct employee of a business that is not a security guard agency and secures that business's own premises (in-house/proprietary guards, store detectives, watchmen); other 106-F:4 exclusions (e.g., off-duty assigned police, firefighters providing fire watch) are partly truncated in the saved text. Out-of-state corporations must also register as foreign corporations under RSA 293-A (106-F:3, III). [1]

Local licensing. Licensing of security guard businesses is state-level under RSA 106-F (Department of Safety). Neither RSA 106-F nor Saf-C 2200 creates or refers to a county/municipal license for security guard businesses; the statute only requires that notice of licensure or denial be forwarded to local law enforcement where the licensee resides (RSA 106-F:6, I), and the division notifies local law enforcement of the application (Saf-C 2203.07(b)). Out-of-state corporations register with the NH Secretary of State under RSA 293-A (RSA 106-F:3, III).

Your guards. Every guard employed by a security guard agency must first hold a state employee license (RSA 106-F:3, II), applied for on DSSP 247 'Employee Application for Private Investigator, Security Guard, or Bail Recovery Agent License'; $5.00 fee paid by the employer before issuance; 2-year term; DOS-issued photo ID card; armed guards need annual firearms proficiency and FBI fingerprinting. [5]

Role

No 'qualifying agent' title. The application must name 'the person primarily responsible for managing and conducting the business in this state', who 'shall meet the requirements of paragraph VII' of RSA 106-F:5. [1]

Experience

AMBIGUOUS for security guard agencies. RSA 106-F:5, II makes the managing person of ANY applicant meet paragraph VII, but VII's lead-in applies its qualifications to 'applicants for private investigator or bail recovery agent licenses'. If applied, VII(d) (except for employees) requires one of: (1) 4 years' full-time experience as a law enforcement officer, director of security or senior officer of a company or corporation, or licensed security service, or full-time insurance adjuster/risk manager/claims investigator; (2) AS/BS in criminal justice or fire service, ASIS certified professional investigator or NALI certified legal investigator certification, and 2 years as a full-time investigator for a PI agency; (3) 4 years as full-time investigator for a licensed PI/agency; (4) 4 years full-time firefighter plus IAAI certification; (5) ASIS certification in security operations plus 2 years' experience; or (6) ASIS certification in executive protection plus 2 years' experience; plus (e) verifiable documentation. Saf-C 2200 states no experience requirement. How DOS applies this to security guard agency managers could not be verified. [1]

Age & background

If paragraph VII applies via 106-F:5, II: U.S. resident; at least 18; no felony conviction of any type and no misdemeanor conviction associated with theft, honesty, fraud, controlled substances, misdemeanor crimes of violence (in the commissioner's judgment), domestic violence or abuse, and no active domestic violence protective order (106-F:5, VII(a)-(c)). Independently, the rules require the commissioner to deny an applicant with a felony conviction, a violent misdemeanor record, or a conviction involving theft, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation (Saf-C 2209.02(a)); background investigation with criminal records check (Saf-C 2203.07). [1]

• Three unrelated character references for an original license (RSA 106-F:5, III). [1]
• Disclosure of unpardoned/unannulled felony and misdemeanor convictions, prior license revocations/suspensions, claims or lawsuits as a licensee, and domestic violence protective orders (RSA 106-F:5, IV). [1]
• Application lists the firm/entity and all partners, officers, and major stockholders (RSA 106-F:5, I). [1]
• Verifiable documentation of qualifications at the time of application (RSA 106-F:5, VII(e); same applicability ambiguity as experience). [1]
• Sworn law enforcement officers (NH, its subdivisions, other states, federal) may not be issued or hold an agency license (RSA 106-F:10, IV). [1]
• Applicant previously treated for mental illness/emotional disorder or confined in an institution must provide a licensed health care practitioner's written statement of ability to perform the duties (Saf-C 2203.06; LII mirror text). [5]
• Armed licensees (not the agency license itself): firearms proficiency on initial licensure and at least once per year - practical/tactical pistol or revolver course with minimum 75 percent, shotgun familiarization/rifle course if equipped, 4 hours instruction; FBI fingerprint check (RSA 106-F:8, I; 106-F:6, II). [1]

Surety bond

Surety bond with a principal sum of no less than $50,000, increased by $50,000 for each additional type of license held; conditioned on lawful and honest conduct; filed with and kept by the Secretary of State; suable by the Attorney General or an injured person; licensee's employees are covered under it (RSA 106-F:9, I-II). Rules (Saf-C 2208.01): no license issues until certified evidence of the bond is on file via form DSSP 55 'Bond for Private Investigator, Security Guard, or Bail Recovery Services' (as revised 3/18); surety must give 30 days' written notice by certified mail before cancellation/expiration; bond in force for the license term. CONFLICT: statute 'no less than $50,000' vs rule 'shall be $50,000' - consistent at the minimum; statute controls. [1]

Branch offices

No separate branch-office license or fee in statute or rules. The licensee must notify the commissioner within 10 business days of any change in the address of any office or the location of the business (also employee discharges/terminations and changes in firm membership/officers/directors); failure is cause for suspension (RSA 106-F:9, III; Saf-C 2209.01). [1]

• Statute (RSA 106-F:7, I): security guard service license $150 for a service employing one licensed person; $350 for one employing more than one; a separate fee for each license type held. [1]
• Rule (Saf-C 2205.04(b), amd by #13138 eff 11-24-20): security guard agency license $350.00. Consistent with statute. The rule cites the pre-2019 section number 'RSA 106-F:8' (fees are now RSA 106-F:7). [4]
• Rule (Saf-C 2205.04(a)): security guard individual license (one-person service) $150.00. [3]
• Employee license $5.00 (Saf-C 2205.04(c)); statutory cap $100, paid by the employing service/agency before the license issues (RSA 106-F:7, II). [3]
• Background investigation fee $10.00 (Saf-C 2205.03). [4]
• State criminal record check fee: Saf-C 2205.02 requires the fee in Saf-C 5703.06, which is $25.00 (official Saf-C 5700 page; #12132 eff 3-17-17). [7]
• Duplicate identification card $3.00 (Saf-C 2205.05). [4]
• Checks payable to 'State of NH Treasurer' (Saf-C 2205.06; LII mirror text). [5]

1. Obtain forms by mail, in person, or online from the Licensing and Permits Section (Saf-C 2202.01). [4]
2. Complete form DSSP 258 'Agency Application for Private Investigative, Security Guard, or Bail Recovery Agency License' (official rule: 'as revised 6-20'; LII mirror shows '3-20' - official controls); explain any 'yes' answers to questions 13-18 in block 19; certify familiarity with state laws, rules and local ordinances (Saf-C 2203.03). [3]
3. Have DSSP 258 notarized by a notary public or justice of the peace (Saf-C 2203.03(d)) and execute it under penalty of unsworn falsification, RSA 641:3 (Saf-C 2203.05). [4]
4. Supply entity/partner/officer/major-stockholder details, the managing person's details, 3 unrelated character references (original), and criminal/license/lawsuit/protective-order history (RSA 106-F:5, I-IV). [1]
5. Two photographs taken at state police headquarters for the photo license card (RSA 106-F:5, VI). [1]
6. Obtain the surety bond on form DSSP 55 (principal, surety and a witness sign) and file certified evidence; no license issues until the bond is on file (Saf-C 2208.01). [5]
7. Pay license fee, $10 background investigation fee and $25 state criminal record check fee; checks to 'State of NH Treasurer' (Saf-C 2205). [5]
8. Division conducts a background investigation including a criminal records check and notifies local law enforcement where the applicant resides; reference questionnaires and a letter of explanation if issues arise (Saf-C 2203.07-2203.08). [5]
9. Commissioner issues the license or written denial; notice goes to local law enforcement; ID cards are issued to licensed persons (RSA 106-F:6). [1]
10. Out-of-state corporations register as foreign corporations under RSA 293-A (RSA 106-F:3, III). [1]
11. License each guard employee (form DSSP 247) before they start work (RSA 106-F:3, II). [1]

Renewal

License valid 2 years from issue; renewed every 2 years on application, fee, and certified evidence that the surety bond remains in force; renewal application due at least 15 days before expiration (RSA 106-F:7, I). Agency renewal form DSSP 221 ('revised 6/2020' per official rule; LII shows '3-20'). Late renewals are returned and the applicant must complete the original-license procedure (Saf-C 2204.04). Renewal licenses are dated from the prior expiration date (Saf-C 2204.05). No continuing education rule adopted, although RSA 106-F:9, X authorizes up to 10 hours per license period. [1]

Disqualifiers & waivers

Mandatory denial (Saf-C 2209.02(a)): material misstatement; felony conviction; violent misdemeanor record; conviction involving theft, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; or any act that would be grounds for suspension/revocation. Commissioner considers the totality of the record (2209.02(c)-(d)). Pending charge that would disqualify if convicted: denied, may reapply after adjudication (2209.02(g)). No waiver mechanism found. Denial in writing with reasons; hearing request within 15 days (RSA 106-F:6, VI) / '15 calendar days' (Saf-C 2209.02(e)) - statute controls, rule is the stricter reading; hearing within 30 days; appeal to superior court within 30 days of receipt (RSA 106-F:13). Revocation/suspension grounds RSA 106-F:12; after revocation, ineligible to reapply for one year (Saf-C 2209.04(c)). Operating unlicensed: misdemeanor for a natural person, felony for any other person (RSA 106-F:14). [4]

• RSA ch. 106-F, 106-F:1 to 106-F:15 — Private Investigators, Security Guards, and Bail Recovery Agents (Source. 2019, 324:1, eff. July 1, 2019; no later amendment shown on the official RSA page as retrieved 2026-11-09) [1]
• RSA ch. 106-F — Private Investigators, Security Guards, and Bail Recovery Agents [2]
• N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 2201.01 to 2209.07 — Chapter Saf-C 2200 Licensing of Private Investigators, Security Guards, and Bail Recovery Agents (official page excerpts; #12513 eff 4-12-18, amended by #12919 eff 11-21-19 and #13138 eff 11-24-20) [3]
• N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 2200 — Licensing of Private Investigators, Security Guards, and Bail Recovery Agents [4]
• N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 2200 (full text) — Same chapter, full text from Cornell LII secondary mirror [5]
• N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 5703.06, 5703.07, 5703.13 — Criminal record check fee ($25.00), fee exemptions, fingerprint capture fee ($10.00) - cross-referenced by Saf-C 2205.01-2205.02 [7]

1. RSA Chapter 106-F Private Investigators, Security Guards, and Bail Recovery Agents (official RSA page; text reassembled from verbatim WebFetch extracts because direct download was refused; some 106-F:4 paragraphs truncated) · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. nh-rsa-106f-verify · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. Saf-C 2200 official rules page - verbatim excerpts (form revision dates, fees, bond) · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. nh-safc2200-official-verify · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. Saf-C 2200 full text (Cornell LII mirror) · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. NH General Court bill status title searches 2025-2026 + SB568 (2026) text · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. Saf-C 5700 official rules page - verbatim extracts of Saf-C 5703.06 (criminal record check fee) and 5703.13 source note · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. Saf-C 5703.06, 5703.07, 5703.13 full text (Cornell LII mirror) · 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.