NEW YORK SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency license (GBL Article 7, §70-a). This is the business license. It is separate from the individual Security Guard registration under GBL Article 7-A. A licensed private investigator may also perform watch, guard or patrol services, but a WGP agency may not perform private investigator services. [1]

Who needs it. Any person, firm, company, partnership, LLC or corporation that engages in, or advertises, the business of a watch, guard or patrol agency without a DOS license. The business is defined in GBL §71(2) as furnishing, for hire or reward, watchmen, guards, private patrolmen or other persons to protect persons or property, or to prevent theft. A license is required for each bureau, agency, sub-agency, office and branch office. Under GBL §71(3) the term includes a 'security guard company' as defined in GBL §89-f(5). A public entity, or a company that uses security guards solely for its own proprietary use, is not deemed a security guard company for Article 7 purposes. Such employers still register their guards and file evidence of insurance under Article 7-A and 19 NYCRR 174.2 (DOS Proprietary Security Guard Employer form). Violating §70-a is a class B misdemeanor. [1]

Local licensing. The business is licensed at state level by the NYS Department of State (GBL §70-a(2)). GBL §89-r says local laws may not require 'any fee or license' for security guards. The official Senate text reads 'licensure of registration or security guards'; the DOS compilation reads 'licensure or registration of security guards'. That preemption addresses individual guards and does not by its terms cover agency licenses. A systematic sweep of local codes (NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Erie) was not done because WebSearch was unavailable. Ordinary local filings still apply: the DOS application requires that a trade name (d/b/a) or partnership be filed with the County Clerk.

Your guards. Every security guard the agency employs must hold an individual DOS Security Guard registration card under the Security Guard Act (GBL Art. 7-A). Requirements include minimum age 18; 8-hour pre-assignment training; 16-40 hours of on-the-job training within 90 working days; a 47-hour firearms course for armed guards; and 8-hour annual in-service training, plus another 8 hours for armed guards (GBL §89-n). As a 'security guard company', the agency must verify the guard's registration or file the guard's application before employment (19 NYCRR 174.6). It must give DOS written notice within 15 calendar days of each hire, retirement, resignation or termination (GBL §89-g(5)) and keep records. Registration pages: https://dos.ny.gov/security-guard and https://dos.ny.gov/online-security-guard-registry. [1]

Role

Qualifying applicant ('qualifier'): the individual applicant, or one partner, member, officer or principal of the entity, who proves the qualifying experience and passes the WGP exam. Every other partner, officer or principal must also be licensed and files as a 'nonqualifier' applicant (fingerprints and application, no exam). For corporations this includes the President, Secretary, Treasurer, holders of 10% or more of the stock, and officers and directors working in NY. [6]

Experience

At least 2 years of regular employment performing watch, guard or patrol services (GBL §71(2)) as a sheriff, a city or county police officer, an employee of a state, county or U.S. government agency, or an employee of a licensed PI or WGP agency (GBL §72(1)). The alternative is an 'equivalent position and experience' under 19 NYCRR 172.2: 2 years full-time in a position whose primary duties were security guard services, or 2 years supervising and reviewing the work of at least 3 people performing such services. The DOS FAQ calls this 'two years of full-time security experience'. [1]

Age & background

Must be at least 25 years old (GBL §74(1)(b)). DOS investigates good character, competency and integrity. Fingerprints go to DCJS. The statute says they 'may' also go to the FBI, but DOS's fingerprint page charges the FBI fee only to security guard applicants. DOS also refers the applicant's name to the chief of police and district attorney. Felony convictions and the misdemeanors listed in GBL §74(2) are a bar unless relieved (see disqualifiers_and_waivers). [1]

• Must be a principal in the business entity [13]
• Must have passed the WGP written exam within the 2 years immediately before the application date. The original 'PASSED' slip, not a copy, must be submitted. [6]
• A resident applicant's application must be approved by at least five reputable citizens of the community where the applicant lives or does business. Each must have known the applicant for at least 5 years, must not be related by blood or marriage, and signs under penalty of perjury. Non-residents need five reputable citizens of their own community. [1]
• May not hold an employment agency license, or have a financial interest in or take part in controlling an employment agency or another private detective business (limited stock exceptions apply). [1]
• A person cannot be licensed as both a private investigator and a WGP agency [6]
• Must maintain a principal place of business within New York State, where employee and business records are kept (19 NYCRR 170.5) [2]
• A non-resident applicant must file a written consent to the jurisdiction of New York courts before the license is issued [1]
• Corporation: DOS may deny, suspend or revoke if 10% or more of the stock is held by a person who cannot meet the individual character standard [1]
• Electronic fingerprinting through IdentoGO by IDEMIA at a New York site, using service code 1545QJ (PI/WGP/support staff). Receipts are valid for 5 months. [6]
• No specific pre-licensing training is required for a PI or WGP licensee [6]
• The licensee must supervise all employees engaged in security guard work (19 NYCRR 170.13) [2]

Exam

Watch Guard or Patrol Written Examination [4]

Who sits it

The person or member who meets the experience requirement (the qualifier), and the person responsible for the operation and management of each bureau, agency, sub-agency, office or branch office (GBL §72(1)). Nonqualifier principals do not take it. [1]

Administered by

No third-party vendor. The NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, runs the exam itself through its exam unit ((518) 473-2731) and Exam Supervisor. [4]

Delivery

In person and walk-in. Candidates register at the test center on exam day, and seats go first-come, first-served. Late arrivals are not admitted, and candidates should arrive at least 15 minutes early. The exam is multiple choice, and candidates must bring two #2 pencils, a current government-issued photo ID and the $15 fee (check, money order, MasterCard or Visa; no cash). July–December 2026 sites: Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Franklin Square, Hauppauge, New York City, Pomona, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica. Results come by mail. The exam is also offered in Spanish, Korean, Russian and Chinese. [4]

Time limit (minutes)

150 [4]

Open book

No [4]

Retakes

No retake waiting period or attempt limit is published. A candidate who fails is notified by mail. A passing result is valid for 2 years. [4]

Candidate handbook ↗

Insurance

Statute (GBL §89-g(6)): 'security guard companies which are self-insured' must file a certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance for death and personal injury. The insurer must be licensed in NY, or the policy procured by a licensed excess line broker. Minimums are $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, and coverage must include false arrest or false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel, slander and violation of right of privacy. The policy may not be modified or cancelled without 30 days' prior notice to DOS. No guard may be employed unless the coverage is in force and the certificate is filed. DOS's license page and application require this evidence from every WGP applicant that employs security guards. The statute's 'self-insured' wording is narrower; DOS's instruction is what is applied at application. [1]

Surety bond

A $10,000 surety company bond, conditioned on the faithful and honest conduct of the business, on DOS form DOS-1536. The surety must be a company recognized and approved by the Superintendent of Financial Services; the DOS March 2026 compilation still says 'Superintendent of Insurance', but the Senate text controls. A separate $10,000 bond is required with each branch office application. Renewal requires the same bond amount, shown by a Certification of Bonded Status. The DOS bond form states that the surety must give the Secretary of State sixty days' notice before cancelling. (Bail enforcement agents need $500,000.) [1]

Branch offices

A separate license is required for each bureau, agency, sub-agency, office and branch office (GBL §§70-a(2), 72), filed on form DOS-1542-f-a (Rev. 02/23). The fee is $300 individual or $400 partnership/corporation; the form also lists Trade Name at $400. Each branch needs its own $10,000 bond. The person managing each branch office must have passed the written exam (GBL §72(1)). If an office moves, written notice must go to DOS within 24 hours (GBL §77). [8]

• Initial license (2-year term), non-refundable: individual $300; firm, partnership, LLC or corporation $400 (GBL §74(1)(a); matches DOS fee page and DOS-0075) [1]
• Branch office license: $300 individual / $400 corporate or business (DOS fee page and DOS-0075). Form DOS-1542 lists Individual $300, Partnership or Corporation $400, Trade Name $400. [13]
• Renewal: same fee as the original license ($300 individual / $400 business) [1]
• Late renewal filing fee: $100 if the renewal is not filed six weeks before expiration [1]
• Written exam: $15 per sitting, non-refundable [1]
• Change of business name or status: $150 [1]
• Change of address: $10. The DOS page lists $10 for a change of personal name and/or address, with no fee if the name change results from a change in marital status. [1]
• Duplicate license certificate or ID card: $10 [1]
• Employment Status Notification (notice of security guard employment filed after the original registration application): $25 (19 NYCRR 174.7(b); also on the DOS fee page) [2]
• Fingerprinting (payable to IDEMIA), per the DOS WGP license page: $88.50 [13]
• Fingerprinting per the DOS Electronic Fingerprinting page: DCJS fee $75.00 plus vendor fee $17.50 = $92.50 (the vendor fee changes each January and July). The $15.00 FBI fee applies only to security guard applicants. This conflicts with the $88.50 on the license page; the fingerprinting page is the more specific and likely more current figure. [18]
• Returned check fee: $20 [13]
• For reference, each employed security guard's individual registration under Art. 7-A costs $36 initially (plus DCJS and FBI fingerprint fees) and $25 per biennial renewal (GBL §§89-h, 89-m) [1]

1. The qualifier passes the WGP written exam (walk-in, $15) and keeps the original PASSED notice that comes by mail. 'Qualifying' applicants should not apply until they have passed. [4]
2. Every applicant (the qualifier and each nonqualifier principal) completes electronic fingerprinting with IdentoGO by IDEMIA at a New York site, using Service Code 1545QJ. Receipts are valid for 5 months. [18]
3. File the trade name (d/b/a) or partnership certificate with the County Clerk where applicable. A corporation supplies a certified copy of its certificate of incorporation. [6]
4. Obtain the $10,000 surety bond on DOS form DOS-1536. If employing guards, obtain the required liability insurance. [6]
5. Submit application DOS-0075-f-a (Rev. 06/24). It includes the signed DMV Informed Consent, residence and experience history with verification, the five-citizen approvals, the fingerprint receipt, the fee, the original PASSED slip, bond proof and insurance evidence. Each nonqualifier principal submits a separate application with a fingerprint receipt. [6]
6. DOS investigates (DCJS record check, police and district attorney inquiries) and posts pending applications on its weekly public bulletin board. The license issues at least 10 days after filing, for a 2-year term. [1]
7. Post the license certificate conspicuously at each licensed office, and file a branch office application (DOS-1542) for each additional office [1]
8. Before guards work, verify each guard's registration through the Online Security Guard Registry (or file the guard's application) under the 19 NYCRR 174.6 due-diligence rules. Report hires and separations to DOS. Non-guard support staff file Employee's Statements with fingerprints. [22]

Renewal

Two-year term. DOS mails renewal forms about 90 days before expiration, and licensees may renew from 90 days before expiration. Renewal requires the same fee as the original ($300/$400) and the same bond amount (Certification of Bonded Status). By statute the renewal must be filed six weeks before expiration or carry a $100 late fee. No renewal is granted more than six months after expiration, and the business may not operate between expiration and renewal. No continuing education requirement for the WGP licensee was found. [1]

Disqualifiers & waivers

GBL §74(2) bars a license for anyone convicted in any state or territory of a felony or of these listed offenses: illegally using, carrying or possessing a pistol or other dangerous weapon; making or possessing burglar's instruments; buying, receiving or criminally possessing stolen property; unlawful entry of a building; aiding escape from prison; unlawfully possessing or distributing habit-forming narcotic drugs; Penal Law §§165.25 or 165.30; any Penal Law article 250 offense; and certain former Penal Law sections. The bar also covers anyone whose license was revoked for such a conviction. It can be removed by an executive pardon, a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct (Correction Law art. 23). Under GBL §79, DOS may revoke, suspend, fine up to $1,000, reprimand or deny for violations, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or material misstatement. Licensees must report any criminal conviction to DOS by certified mail within 10 days (19 NYCRR 172.3). The licensee may not knowingly employ persons with such convictions (GBL §81), and for guards the GBL §89-g/89-h standards apply. [1]

• 2027-09-20ALREADY ENACTED, TAKES EFFECT LATER IN 2027 (not in force on 2027-01-01): the GBL §89-w exemption for a tenant or third-party security provider at an Erie County publicly owned sports venue (capacity 60,000+) expires, and so does its rule that at least 50% of the guards hired be licensed. §89-w then reverts to the general exemption for not-for-profit security guard companies and public entities hiring guards for specific events, temporarily, for up to 15 days per year. The current §89-w text stays in force through 2027-01-01. GBL §89-w; L.2021 ch.429 §2, as amended by L.2022 ch.29 and L.2024 ch.187 [1]
• 2024-07-03Background to the 2027 sunset: Chapter 187 of 2024 (A10269/S9680), signed 2024-07-03, extended the ch.429/2021 Erie sports-venue provision from three to six years. Enacted before 2025, so not itself a 2025-2026 change. L.2024 ch.187 [28]
• 2027-08-01 (only if signed)PENDING, NOT ENACTED as of 2026-11-09: A5079-E/S194-D, the 'school security guard training enhancement act', would require the 8-hour annual in-service course for guards employed or contracted by a school to include school-specific training (amends GBL §89-n(1)). It passed the Assembly on 2026-06-02 and the Senate on 2026-06-04. The Assembly status page, re-checked 2026-11-09, still shows 'RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY' with no delivery to the Governor and no chapter number. If signed, it takes effect August 1, 2027, so it is not part of the law on 2027-01-01 in any event. A.5079-E / S.194-D (2025-2026 session) [27]

• N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 7, §§ 70-89-a — Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents and Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies (licensing of the WGP agency: §§70-a, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81) [1]
• N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 7-A, §§ 89-e-89-s and 89-w — Security Guard Act of 1992 (security guard registration, employer duties, training, insurance, preemption). There are no sections 89-t to 89-v in Art. 7-A; §89-w is placed in Art. 7-A by subject matter. [1]
• 19 NYCRR Part 170 — Employees (170.1 security guard; 170.2-170.4 fingerprinting, including qualifying licensees; 170.5 principal business address; 170.8 business records; 170.9 ID cards; 170.11 advertisements; 170.12 contracts; 170.13 supervision) [2]
• 19 NYCRR Part 172 — Applications (172.2 equivalent position and experience for watch, guard or patrol agency; 172.3 notice of criminal conviction) [2]
• 19 NYCRR Part 173 — Statement of Services to Be Performed [2]
• 19 NYCRR Part 174 — Security Guard Companies (174.2 exempt entities; 174.5 fingerprints; 174.6 due diligence; 174.7 notice of employment; 174.12 registration) [2]
• 19 NYCRR Part 171 — Qualifying school requirements for bail enforcement agents (does not apply to WGP) [2]

1. NY General Business Law Art. 7 and 7-A, official NY Senate Open Legislation per-section PDFs (legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/laws/GBS<section>) · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. DOS compilation (March 2026): Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies and Security Guards Licensing Law, covering GBL Art. 7, 7-A and 19 NYCRR Parts 170-174. Used as the source of regulation text because the official NYCRR site was blocked. Two-column layout causes some interleaving. · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. v-dos-license-law-2026-03 · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. July – December 2026 Watch Guard or Patrol Written Examination Information and Schedule (NYS DOS PDF) · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. dos-wgp-exam-schedule-2026h2 · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. Private Investigator, Bail Enforcement Agent, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency Application, DOS-0075-f-a (Rev. 06/24) · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. DOS-1206 is the security guard form) · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. PI, BEA or WGP Agency Branch Office Application, DOS-1542-f-a (Rev. 02/23) · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. dos-branch-office-app · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. Bond form DOS-1536 (Rev. 09/16) · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. dos-bond-form · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. Certification of Bonded Status (required when renewing license) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. Get a Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency License | Department of State (requirements, fees, forms) · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. v-dos-html-recheck · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. Renew or Update Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency License | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. Frequently Asked Questions - Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. Electronic Fingerprinting | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
19. PI, BEA, WGP Agency Support Staff/Employee's Statement · retrieved 2026-11-09
20. Proprietary Security Guard Employer Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
21. Security Guard Employer Checklist (NYS DOS) · retrieved 2026-11-09
22. Online Security Guard Registry | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
23. Security Guard | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
24. Become a Security Guard | Department of State · retrieved 2026-11-09
25. Employee Statement and Security Guard Application (DOS-1206) · retrieved 2026-11-09
26. NY Senate Open Legislation: GBL Art. 7/7-A revision-date check (partial record; full HTML blocked by Cloudflare) · retrieved 2026-11-09
27. A5079-E / S194-D (2025-2026) school security guard training enhancement act: NY Assembly bill page (summary, actions, memo, text) · retrieved 2026-11-09
28. A10269 / S9680 (2024), chapter 187 of 2024, extending the GBL 89-w Erie sports venue provision: NY Assembly bill page · 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.