Virginia Locksmith Licensing & Legal Requirements (2026)

By Mohammad H. Abdelhadi, ALOA-Certified Master Locksmith, mobile automotive locksmith. Reviewed by Ray Obar, Master Locksmith. Updated June 2, 2026.

Virginia Locksmith Licensing and Legal Requirements are administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Virginia is one of a minority of U.S. states that actively regulate the locksmith trade, requiring both business licensure and individual registration before any person may offer locksmith services for compensation.

Virginia Locksmith Licensing and Legal Requirements — Is a License Required?

Yes. Virginia requires anyone who performs locksmith services — or who advertises or represents themselves as a locksmith — to be properly licensed and registered through the state. According to DCJS, the definition is broad: it covers any individual who “performs locksmith services, or advertises or represents to the general public that the individual is a locksmith,” including the use of substitute terms such as lock technician, safe technician, unlocking technician, or physical security technician.

This makes Virginia notably stricter than many other states. Only about 13 states nationwide currently license locksmiths at the state level. In the Commonwealth, the regulatory framework treats locksmithing as a category of private security services, alongside private investigators, electronic security technicians, and security officers. Both the locksmith business and every individual performing locksmith work must hold valid credentials issued by DCJS.

Virginia law does carve out several narrow exemptions under § 9.1-140. These include retail merchants who cut keys at their business location without holding themselves out as locksmiths, motor vehicle dealers, towing companies, law-enforcement or emergency personnel performing locksmith services without compensation, and general contractors whose locksmith work is incidental to a project valued under $1,000 and who do not advertise as locksmiths. Consumers and practitioners should note that these exemptions are strictly limited.

Current Issuing Authority for Virginia Locksmith Licensing and Legal Requirements

The sole state agency responsible for locksmith regulation is the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), specifically its Division of Licensure and Regulatory Services. DCJS administers locksmith rules under the broader umbrella of private security services regulation. The Criminal Justice Services Board adopts regulations, while DCJS handles day-to-day licensing, registration, enforcement, and training-school certification.

The governing statutes are found in the Code of Virginia, Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 through § 9.1-150), with locksmith-specific registration provisions in § 9.1-140.1. The corresponding administrative regulations are codified at 6 VAC 20-172 (Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Businesses) and 6 VAC 20-174 (Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Registered Personnel), which contain the compulsory minimum training standards for locksmiths.

License Classes, Training, Renewal, Bonding, and Insurance

Business License

Any entity offering locksmith services to the public must obtain a Private Security Services Business License from DCJS in the “Locksmiths” category. Requirements for the business license include:

• A physical address in Virginia (not a P.O. box) where required records are maintained and available for DCJS inspection.
• Designation of at least one certified compliance agent responsible for ensuring all employees meet legal requirements.
• Submission of fingerprints for all principals of the business for both a Virginia Criminal History Records search and a National Criminal Records search.
• A Certificate of Insurance showing comprehensive general liability coverage with a minimum of $1,000,000 in general aggregate liability, issued by a carrier authorized to do business in Virginia and naming DCJS as a certificate holder.
• If the applicant is not a sole proprietorship or general partnership, a Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) identification number.

Business license fees start at approximately $550 for a one-year term. DCJS may issue a temporary business license for up to 120 days while fingerprint results are pending. The business license number must be displayed on all advertisements, business cards, contracts, letterhead, and all electronic or digital advertising, including websites and social media.

Individual Registration

Every person who performs locksmith services for a licensed business must hold a personal DCJS registration. To qualify, an individual must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be of good moral and ethical character.
• Complete the 25E — Locksmith entry-level training course (18 hours), administered by a DCJS-certified training school. The course covers ethics, lock types, master keying, physical security, safes and vaults, access control, automotive locksmithing, applicable safety codes (including NFPA and ADA), and Virginia law.
• Pass a written comprehensive examination at the conclusion of training.
• Submit fingerprints through FieldPrint Virginia for both state and federal criminal background checks. The fingerprint processing fee is approximately $50.
• Pay the individual registration application fee of $25.

A new employee may work under a licensed locksmith business for up to 90 consecutive days while completing training and awaiting registration, provided fingerprints have been submitted on or before the date of hire. During this period, the individual must carry a 90-day authorization document and photo identification.

Renewal

Individual registrations are valid for up to 24 months. To renew, a locksmith must complete 4 hours of in-service training (course 25I — Locksmith In-Service), which may be taken online or in person. The renewal fee is approximately $34. Business licenses also renew on a similar cycle and require proof of continued insurance coverage and compliance agent certification.

Bonding

Virginia’s locksmith regulations fall under the private security services insurance provisions at § 9.1-144. The primary requirement is general liability insurance rather than a surety bond. However, practitioners should verify current DCJS requirements, as the Board has the authority to update bonding or insurance standards through regulation.

Penalties for Unlicensed Operation Under Virginia Locksmith Licensing and Legal Requirements

Virginia takes unlicensed locksmith activity seriously. Under § 9.1-149, it is unlawful for any person to operate as a locksmith or locksmith business without proper DCJS credentials. The Criminal Justice Services Board may pursue several enforcement avenues:

• Civil monetary penalties of up to $5,000 per violation under § 9.1-150.
• Injunctive relief — the Board may apply to a circuit court for an order enjoining continued violations.
• License denial or revocation — persons found operating unlicensed may be barred from applying for a license for six months after the infraction, and existing credentials can be suspended or revoked.
• Criminal penalties — § 9.1-147 addresses unlawful conduct generally, and § 9.1-148 covers fraudulent procurement of a license, both carrying potential criminal sanctions.

It is also unlawful under § 9.1-149.1 to advertise locksmith services without a valid DCJS license. Any company that dispatches an unlicensed individual to perform locksmith work is itself in violation of state law. Consumers who encounter unlicensed operators may report them to DCJS or to local law enforcement.

The Board also has authority to deny or refuse to renew a license if the licensee has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, demonstrated gross negligence or incompetence, or willfully violated any provisions of the article.

City and Local Variations in Virginia Locksmith Licensing and Legal Requirements

Unlike some states where locksmith regulation exists only at the city or county level, Virginia’s regulatory scheme is statewide. The DCJS licensing framework applies uniformly across all Virginia localities — from Virginia Beach and Norfolk to Richmond, Alexandria, and rural counties.

However, locksmiths operating in any Virginia city or county should be aware that local business license taxes (sometimes called BPOL taxes) and general business permits may still apply. These are separate from the DCJS private security services license and are administered by each locality’s Commissioner of the Revenue or finance office. The state-level DCJS license does not replace or exempt a business from local business licensing requirements.

No Virginia city or county currently imposes a separate, additional locksmith-specific license beyond the DCJS requirement, but local zoning, signage, and home-occupation rules may affect where and how a locksmith business operates. Practitioners should check with their local government for any applicable requirements.

Documentation for Locksmith Service

When a locksmith arrives at a job site in Virginia, consumers have the right to expect verifiable credentials. Under Virginia Locksmith Licensing and Legal Requirements, every registered locksmith employee must carry a DCJS-issued registration card (or temporary registration letter) along with valid photo identification while on duty. The locksmith business must also be able to show its business license number, which should appear on all company advertising, vehicles, contracts, and digital presence.

Consumers hiring a locksmith in Virginia can verify credentials in several ways:

• Ask to see the technician’s DCJS registration card and photo ID before work begins.
• Look for the DCJS business license number (format: 11-XXXX) on the company’s website, advertising, and service vehicle.
• Use the DCJS online verification tool at dcjs.virginia.gov to search for a business or individual by name or license number.

Licensed locksmith businesses must also maintain all required records at their Virginia physical address, available for DCJS inspection. Compliance agents within each business are responsible for maintaining documentation that every employee meets all applicable training and registration requirements.

When you work with a company like Low Rate Locksmith, you can ask for their DCJS credentials before any service begins. A reputable, licensed locksmith will always be willing to provide this verification. Low Rate Locksmith encourages all Virginia consumers to confirm licensing status as a basic consumer-protection step whenever hiring a locksmith.