Nevada locksmith license
Yes. Nevada law requires every locksmith to hold a permit from the sheriff of the county where the business is based. Each county sets its own permit fees, and a permit lasts five years.
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 17 quoted facts from official pages
Nevada at a glance
- State license
- Yes, a statewide license
- The law
- NRS chapter 655
- License types
- 3
- Renewal
- Every 5 years
- City and county rules
- Some cities or counties license locksmiths (below)
License types
As the agency names them.
Individual
Locksmith permit
Required of every person who wishes to operate as a locksmith (NRS 655.070(1)). Issued by the county sheriff under the county commission's ordinance; valid 5 years.
Individual
Safe mechanic permit
Same permit requirement for persons who repair, operate, adjust or change combinations on safes or vaults (NRS 655.060, 655.070).
Company
County locksmith business license (local)
Not a state license. Example: unincorporated Clark County lists 'Locksmith' and 'Locksmith (Non-Mobile Service)' as regulated business licenses; Washoe County requires owners to hold a Washoe County business license. See local_rules.
Requirements
Only what the official pages state. A blank means we could not confirm it.
- Background check
- The county sheriff must investigate each applicant and issues the permit only to applicants who qualify under the county ordinance and are found suitable (NRS 655.070(2)). Washoe County takes fingerprints for state-wide and national records checks.
Fees
From the agency's fee rules. Fees change, so check before you apply.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| State permit fee: none set by the state; each county's ordinance must specify issuance and renewal fees (NRS 655.070(2)) | Not stated |
| Unincorporated Clark County locksmith regulated business license - application fee (county fee, not state) | $45 |
| Unincorporated Clark County locksmith regulated business license - annual license fee (county fee, not state) | $150 |
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal
- Every 5 years
Working without a license
Violating NRS Chapter 655 is punishable by a fine of not more than $500, and the violator may also have the permit revoked (NRS 655.080).
City and county rules in Nevada
Each entry is backed by the official sources quoted below.
Clark County
Clark County licenses locksmiths outside its incorporated cities: $150 a year plus a one-time $45 application fee, and $25 a year for each employee's permit. Applicants are fingerprinted and investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and a shop needs at least 300 square feet with safes and security hardware for sale.
Washoe County
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office issues locksmith work permits under NRS 655.070 and Washoe County Code Chapter 25. Applicants are fingerprinted for state and national records checks, owners must show a current Washoe County business license, and permits last five years.
What the official sources say
Each line is a short quote from the official page it links to, with the date we read it.
Nevada requires every locksmith or safe mechanic to obtain a permit from the sheriff of the county of their principal place of business (NRS 655.070(1); NRS page revised 4/15/2026, 2025 session).
“Every person who wishes to operate as a locksmith or safe mechanic must obtain a permit from the sheriff of the county”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
The county sheriff investigates each applicant and issues the permit to applicants who qualify under the county commission's ordinance (NRS 655.070(2)).
“The sheriff of a county shall investigate each applicant and shall issue a permit to each applicant who qualifies under any ordinance”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
Permit fees are not set by the state; the county ordinance must specify issuance and renewal fees (NRS 655.070(2)).
“An ordinance adopted by the board of county commissioners must specify fees for the issuance and renewal of a permit.”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
A Nevada locksmith/safe mechanic permit expires 5 years after it is obtained and may be renewed (NRS 655.070(3)).
“A permit expires 5 years after the date it was obtained and may be renewed.”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
The permit holder must carry the permit at all times (NRS 655.070(4)).
“The holder of a permit shall have the permit in his or her possession at all times.”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
A change of business address must be reported to the issuing county sheriff within 10 days (NRS 655.070(5)).
“principal place of business to the sheriff of the county in which the permit was obtained within 10 days after the change occurs”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
Applicants must include their social security number and submit the child-support statement; permits can be suspended for child-support noncompliance (NRS 655.075, 655.078).
“An applicant for the issuance of a permit shall include the social security number of the applicant in the application”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
Statutory definition of locksmith (NRS 655.040).
““Locksmith” means a person whose occupation consists, in whole or in part, of: 1. Making, repairing or adjusting locks”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
Show 9 more facts
Statutory definition of safe mechanic (NRS 655.060).
““Safe mechanic” means a person whose occupation consists in whole or in part of repairing, operating, adjusting or changing combinations on safes or vaults.”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
Penalty: a violation of NRS Chapter 655 carries a fine of not more than $500 and possible permit revocation (NRS 655.080).
“shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500, and may be further punished by the revocation of his or her permit”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
The Private Investigators Licensing Board's chapter (NRS 648) does not regulate locksmiths: a full-text search of the chapter on 2026-10-13 found no occurrence of 'locksmith'. Quote is the chapter title.
“CHAPTER 648 - PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, PRIVATE PATROL OFFICERS, POLYGRAPHIC EXAMINERS, PROCESS SERVERS, REPOSSESSORS, DOG HANDLERS AND REGISTERED EMPLOYEES”
Source: leg.state.nv.us · checked October 13, 2026
Unincorporated Clark County lists Locksmith as a regulated business license: application fee $45.00, business license fee $150.00, billed annually (table columns: License Category, NAICS Code, Application Fee, Business License Fee, Billing Cycle).
“Locksmith 561622 $45.00 $150.00 Annual”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Clark County also lists a non-mobile locksmith establishment license with the same $45.00 application and $150.00 annual license fee.
“Locksmith (Non-Mobile Service) 561622 $45.00 $150.00 Annual”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Washoe County Sheriff locksmith work permits are governed by NRS 655.070 and Washoe County Code Chapter 25.
“Locksmith permits are regulated by Nevada Revised Statute 655.070 and Washoe County Code Chapter 25.”
Source: washoecounty.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Washoe County fingerprints locksmith permit applicants for state-wide and national records checks.
“Fingerprints will be taken at the time of application/renewal for both a state-wide and a national records check.”
Source: washoecounty.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Washoe County locksmith work permits last five years, and owners must hold a current Washoe County business license.
“Owners must present a current Washoe County Business License.”
Source: washoecounty.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Washoe County locksmith work permit validity period.
“Locksmith work permits are issued for a period of five years.”
Source: washoecounty.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Sales tax on locksmith work in Nevada
Rates, local taxes and how Nevada treats labor and repair charges: sales tax facts for Nevada.
Running a locksmith business in Nevada 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.
Nevada locksmith license questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith in Nevada?
Yes. Nevada law requires every locksmith to hold a permit from the sheriff of the county where the business is based. Each county sets its own permit fees, and a permit lasts five years.
Who issues locksmith licenses in Nevada?
County sheriff (permit under NRS 655.070), under NRS chapter 655.
How much does a Nevada locksmith license cost?
Unincorporated Clark County locksmith regulated business license - application fee (county fee, not state): $45. Unincorporated Clark County locksmith regulated business license - annual license fee (county fee, not state): $150. Fees change, so check the agency's fee page before you apply.
How often do you renew a Nevada locksmith license?
Every 5 years.
What happens if you work as a locksmith without a license in Nevada?
080).
Do cities or counties in Nevada license locksmiths?
Clark County and Washoe County license locksmiths themselves. The details are in the city and county section below.
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 Nevada locksmith business on IntelliDrive OS
$79/month per business, billed monthly, with unlimited users.
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