Connecticut locksmith license
Yes. Connecticut requires anyone who does locksmithing or calls themselves a locksmith to hold a registration from the Department of Consumer Protection. The registration needs a state and national background check and renews every two years.
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 18 quoted facts from official pages
Connecticut at a glance
- State license
- Yes, a statewide license
- The law
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-691
- License types
- 1
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
License types
As the agency names them.
Individual
Locksmith registration
Connecticut issues a 'registration' (not called a license) to a locksmith, defined as a person engaged in locksmithing; the statute uses 'person' and does not create a separate company license. Registrants are listed on a public DCP registry. Exemptions include automobile service dealers working on automobile locks, towing/repossession/auto-club employees opening automotive locks, government employees, building trades in new construction or remodeling, and students in DCP-approved locksmith programs, but only if they do not hold themselves out as locksmiths.
Requirements
Only what the official pages state. A blank means we could not confirm it.
- Background check
- State (Connecticut State Police) and national (FBI) criminal history records check; no registration issues until DCP receives the results. DCP may refuse, revoke or not renew for convictions involving dishonesty, fraud, theft, assault, other violent offenses or crimes related to locksmithing.
Fees
From the agency's fee rules. Fees change, so check before you apply.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Locksmith registration application fee (non-refundable) | $200 |
| Biennial renewal fee | $200 |
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
Working without a license
Civil penalty after notice and hearing: up to $500 for a first violation, up to $750 for a second within three years, and up to $1,500 for a third or later within three years (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(j)); any violation is also an unfair or deceptive trade practice under CUTPA, Sec. 42-110b (20-691(k)), and the Attorney General may seek an injunction (20-691(h)).
What the official sources say
Each line is a short quote from the official page it links to, with the date we read it.
Connecticut defines locksmithing broadly as work on locks and locking devices (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(a)(5)).
““Locksmithing” means the inspection, installation, recombination, rekeying, service or repair of locks or locking devices”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Engaging in locksmithing or using the title locksmith requires a DCP registration (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(b)(4)).
“No person shall engage in locksmithing, use the title locksmith or display or use any words, letters, figures, title, advertisement”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The same subsection ends by requiring a registration (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(b)(4)).
“said person is a locksmith unless such person has obtained a registration as provided in this section.”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Applicants must submit to a state and national criminal history records check (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(b)(1), as amended by P.A. 21-37 effective June 4, 2021).
“The applicant shall submit to a request by the commissioner for a state and national criminal history records check”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
No registration issues until DCP receives the background check results (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(b)(1)).
“No registration shall be issued unless the commissioner has received the results of such records check.”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The statute sets both the application fee and the biennial renewal fee at $200 (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(b)(2)).
“The application fee for registration as a locksmith and the biennial renewal fee for such registration shall be two hundred dollars.”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Registrations expire every two years (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(e)).
“All registrations issued under the provisions of this section shall expire biennially.”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DCP states the application fee is $200 and is non-refundable.
“$200.00. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.”
Source: portal.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Show 10 more facts
DCP states all locksmith registrations expire biennially on December 31 of even-numbered years, with a $200 renewal fee.
“All Locksmith registrations expire biennially on December 31”
Source: portal.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DCP lists the renewal fee as $200.
“Renewal fee: $200.00”
Source: portal.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DCP requires both a Connecticut State Police and an FBI criminal history record with the application.
“State of Connecticut - State Police Criminal History Record Federal - Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Record”
Source: portal.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Registered locksmiths must include their registration number in any advertisement (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(c)(1)(C)).
“include such person's registration number in any advertisement.”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Automobile service dealers working on automobile locks are exempt, if they do not hold themselves out as locksmiths (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(b)(5)(B)).
“automobile service dealers who service, install, repair or rebuild automobile locks”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Unregistered practice carries a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first violation (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(j)).
“Such penalty shall be in an amount not more than five hundred dollars for a first violation of this subsection”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Second violation within three years: up to $750 (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(j)).
“not more than seven hundred fifty dollars for a second violation of this subsection occurring not more than three years after a prior violation”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Third or later violation within three years: up to $1,500 (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(j)).
“not more than one thousand five hundred dollars for a third or subsequent violation of this subsection”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Any violation of the locksmith section is also an unfair or deceptive trade practice (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(k)).
“A violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The Attorney General may seek a court order restraining violations of the locksmith section (Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-691(h)).
“for an order temporarily or permanently restraining and enjoining any person from violating any provision of this section.”
Source: cga.ct.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Sales tax on locksmith work in Connecticut
Rates, local taxes and how Connecticut treats labor and repair charges: sales tax facts for Connecticut.
Running a locksmith business in Connecticut on IntelliDrive OS
What the software does today, nothing more. It does not apply for licenses, file returns or give legal or tax advice.
One tax rate per shop
Add your rates under Settings → Tax Rates, then choose each shop’s default rate under Settings → Outlets, so every shop charges its own local rate.
All featuresRecords kept digitally
Invoices, receipts, signatures and photos are kept digitally for your records, and you can send a receipt to the customer by email or text.
Payment-link evidencePayment links through your own account
Text or email a payment link through your own QuickBooks Payments, Square or Stripe account. On a payment-link sale the record keeps the customer’s signature, the terms they accepted, IP address and device, photos, and location when their browser shares it.
Payment processingStock by shop and van
Each shop, and each van you set up as its own location, keeps its own stock, with reorder points, counts and exact transfers between locations.
InventoryYour team, hours and commission
Time clock, timesheets, pay rates and per-technician commission reporting, with role permissions and staff limited to their own shop.
WorkforceQuickBooks Online, when you choose
Push sales and payments from IntelliDrive OS to QuickBooks Online. It is a one-way push that you start yourself.
QuickBooks integrationScheduling and dispatch (add-on)
Scheduling, dispatch, live GPS and ETA texts come with the GetTimePad add-on at $199/month. It is not part of the $79 plan.
SchedulingMore for locksmiths: IntelliDrive OS for locksmiths.
Connecticut locksmith license questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut requires anyone who does locksmithing or calls themselves a locksmith to hold a registration from the Department of Consumer Protection. The registration needs a state and national background check and renews every two years.
Who issues locksmith licenses in Connecticut?
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-691.
How much does a Connecticut locksmith license cost?
Locksmith registration application fee (non-refundable): $200. Biennial renewal fee: $200. Fees change, so check the agency's fee page before you apply.
How often do you renew a Connecticut locksmith license?
Every 2 years.
What happens if you work as a locksmith without a license in Connecticut?
Civil penalty after notice and hearing: up to $500 for a first violation, up to $750 for a second within three years, and up to $1,500 for a third or later within three years (Conn. Gen.
This guide summarizes the official pages linked next to each fact. Rules and fees change, so check with the licensing agency before you apply or take work. This is not legal advice.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
Run your Connecticut locksmith business on IntelliDrive OS
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The first 30 days are free. A card is required at signup and the first charge is on day 31; cancel in Settings → Billing before then and you pay nothing.