Clark County locksmith license
Yes. 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.
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 21 quoted facts from official pages
Clark County at a glance
- Local license
- Yes
- State rules
- Nevada locksmith license rules
License types
Company
Locksmith license (non-mobile locksmith establishment or mobile locksmith)
Regulated business license issued to the real proprietor; owners, partners, officers, directors and managers are fingerprinted and investigated. A shop needs at least 300 sq ft and a retail inventory of safes, high-security locks, access control and exit hardware; a mobile locksmith needs shared office space in a licensed non-mobile locksmith establishment that meets those requirements. Annual.
Other
Institutional locksmith license
For building owners or lessees, licensed contractors, building maintenance or property management companies, auto dealers, motor vehicle repair shops, tow operators and government agencies whose staff perform locksmith duties incidental to their main occupation.
Individual
Locksmith employee permit / institutional locksmith employee permit
Required for a person employed in a locksmith capacity by a licensed locksmith or institutional locksmith; a temporary 45-day permit can be issued while the application is pending.
Requirements
Only what the official pages state.
- Training or experience
- No training or experience requirement appears in § 6.12.650.
- Background check
- Applicants list all previous arrests, convictions and pending lawsuits (minor traffic citations excepted), are fingerprinted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and submit two notarized LVMPD authorization forms. The police investigate every owner with 10% or more of the business.
Fees
Fees change, so check with the office before you apply.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-time application fee (all regulated business licenses) | $45 |
| Locksmith or institutional locksmith license fee, annual | $150 |
| Locksmith employee or institutional locksmith employee permit fee, annual | $25 |
Renewal
- Renewal
- Every year
Working without a license
Breaking the county's business license code is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in the county jail, and each day is a separate offense. A hearing officer can instead impose a civil penalty of $250 to $1,000 a day for a first offense.
What the official sources say
Each line is a short quote from the official page it links to, with the date we read it.
The county's regulated license guide lists Locksmith with a $45 application fee and a $150 annual business license fee.
“License Category NAICS Code Application Fee Business License Fee Billing Cycle Auctioneer 561991 $45.00 $500.00 Annual Locksmith 561622 $45.00 $150.00 Annual”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A non-mobile locksmith establishment has the same $45 application fee and $150 annual license fee.
“Locksmith (Non-Mobile Service) 561622 $45.00 $150.00 Annual”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The $45 application fee is one-time and is paid in addition to each license fee.
“Business license fees are accompanied by a one-time $45.00 application fee in addition to each license fee”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The licensing process includes an LVMPD criminal background investigation of all owners with 10% or more ownership.
“a criminal background investigation conducted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department of all owners with 10% or more ownership interest”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Applicants submit two notarized LVMPD Authorization to Release Information forms.
“Two (2) original, signed and notarized Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Authorization to Release Information forms are required.”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Division contact: 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Third Floor, Las Vegas, NV 89155, phone 702-455-4340.
“Phone: 702-455-4340 Email: chap@ClarkCountyNV.gov 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Third Floor Las Vegas, NV 89155”
Source: clarkcountynv.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The code sets a $150 annual license fee for each locksmith or institutional locksmith (§ 6.12.650(b)(1)).
“Each locksmith or institutional locksmith shall pay a license fee of one hundred fifty dollars annually”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Locksmith employees and institutional locksmith employees pay a $25 annual permit fee (§ 6.12.650(b)(2)).
“Each institutional locksmith employee or locksmith employee shall pay a permit fee of twenty-five dollars annually”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Show 13 more facts
Applicants must disclose prior arrests, convictions and pending litigation (§ 6.12.650(b)(3)).
“The application shall require the applicant to list any and all previous arrests, convictions or pending litigation, except minor traffic citations”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
LVMPD fingerprints the applicant (§ 6.12.650(b)(3)).
“The applicant shall then present himself to the LVMPD who shall fingerprint the applicant”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
A licensed locksmith must have a physical location of at least 300 square feet (§ 6.12.650(b)(5)(B)(i)).
“Has a physical location of at least three hundred square feet;”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
The location must stock safes, high-security locks, access control and exit hardware for retail sale (§ 6.12.650(b)(5)(B)(ii)).
“Has an inventory for retail sale to the public of safes, high-security locks, electronic access control equipment, security hardware and exit hardware”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
A mobile locksmith must have shared office space in a licensed non-mobile locksmith establishment (§ 6.12.650(b)(5)(B)(iii)).
“Is a "mobile locksmith" that has a "shared office space" in a licensed "nonmobile locksmith establishment"”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Employee permits go only to people employed in a locksmith capacity by a licensed locksmith (§ 6.12.650(b)(7)).
“No such locksmith permit shall be issued to any person who is not employed in a locksmith capacity by a licensed locksmith.”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Institutional locksmiths are owners, contractors, dealers, repair shops, tow operators and others who do locksmith work incidental to their main occupation (§ 6.12.650(a)(1)).
“who perform locksmith duties incidental to their primary occupation.”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Section 6.12.650 dates from Ordinance 2422 (1999).
“(Ord. 2422 § 3 (part), 1999)”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Clark County business licensing applies outside the incorporated cities (§ 6.04.010).
“in the county, outside the incorporated cities and towns”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Violating Title 6 is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail (§ 6.04.140(a)).
“punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment of not more than six months in the county jail”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Each day of violation is a separate offense (§ 6.04.140(a)).
“A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs.”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
A civil penalty for a first offense is $250 to $1,000 per day (§ 6.04.140(c)(1)).
“First offense, at least two hundred fifty dollars but no more than one thousand dollars per day;”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
The county code on Municode was codified through Ordinance No. 5387 (June 3, 2026).
“CLARK COUNTY CODE Codified through Ordinance No. 5387, enacted June 3, 2026. (Supp. No. 149)”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Clark County locksmith license questions
Do locksmiths need a license in Clark County?
Yes. 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.
Who issues locksmith licenses in Clark County?
Clark County Department of Business License, under Clark County Code § 6.12.650 (Locksmith).
How much does a Clark County locksmith license cost?
One-time application fee (all regulated business licenses): $45. Locksmith or institutional locksmith license fee, annual: $150. Locksmith employee or institutional locksmith employee permit fee, annual: $25. Fees change, so check the office's fee page before you apply.
How often do you renew a Clark County locksmith license?
Every year.
What happens if you work as a locksmith without a license in Clark County?
Breaking the county's business license code is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in the county jail, and each day is a separate offense. A hearing officer can instead impose a civil penalty of $250 to $1,000 a day for a first offense.
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.
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