Do you need a locksmith license in New York?
No. New York has no state locksmith license, but New York City and Nassau County license locksmiths themselves. A search of New York's laws for locksmith finds one section, which exempts locksmiths at work from the ban on selling or possessing car master keys.
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 21 quoted facts from official pages
New York at a glance
- State license
- No statewide license
- City and county rules
- Some cities or counties license locksmiths (below)
City and county rules in New York
Each entry is backed by the official sources quoted below.
Nassau County
Nassau County requires anyone performing locksmith services in the county to hold a county locksmith license from its Office of Consumer Affairs, with fingerprinting and liability insurance. Employees and apprentices of a licensed locksmith are exempt.
New York City
New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection licenses locksmiths and locksmith apprentices. A new city law replaces these licenses on May 31, 2027 with a locksmith business license, and applications for it open in February 2027.
Suffolk County
We found no Suffolk County locksmith license. The county's licensed occupations law, Chapter 563 of the Suffolk County Code, has no locksmith article, and a search of the whole county code for locksmith finds nothing.
Westchester County
We found no Westchester County locksmith license. The county's Consumer Protection Code has licensing articles for the alarm systems business and the home improvement business, but none for locksmiths.
What the official sources say
Each line is a short quote from the official page it links to, with the date we read it.
A full-text search of the New York Consolidated Laws on the NY Senate's official Open Legislation statute search for 'locksmith' returned one section, GBL 396-j - there is no state locksmith licensing law.
“1 total results. GBS SECTION 396-J Sale or possession of master or manipulative keys for motor vehicles”
Source: nysenate.gov · checked October 13, 2026
GBL 396-j (most recent revision 2014-09-22) makes selling or knowingly possessing motor vehicle master or manipulative keys (and related tools, under circumstances showing unlawful intent) a class A misdemeanor.
“is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.”
Source: nysenate.gov · checked October 13, 2026
GBL 396-j(2) exempts locksmiths and their agents acting within the scope of their employment (also car dealers, rental agents, licensed and bonded repossessing private investigators, and law enforcement).
“or a locksmith or their agents while acting within the scope of their employment”
Source: nysenate.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Assembly Bill A985 (2011-2012 session), 'The Locksmith Licensing Act of 2011', which would have added GBL Article 6-E, was not enacted: its enacting clause was stricken May 12, 2011.
“Enacts "The Locksmith Licensing Act of 2011"”
Source: nysenate.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A985's last status on the Senate bill page is 'Stricken'.
“Last Bill Status - Stricken”
Source: nysenate.gov · checked October 13, 2026
New York City DCWP requires a Locksmith license for mechanical lock work.
“You must have a Locksmith license to repair, service, install, inspect, and open and close locks by mechanical means.”
Source: nyc.gov · checked October 13, 2026
NYC Locksmith license runs 2 years, expiring May 31 of odd years.
“License Period: 2 years Expiration Date: May 31 in Odd Years”
Source: nyc.gov · checked October 13, 2026
NYC Locksmith license fee is $100 when filed June 1-November 30 of an odd year (prorated $75 or $50 later in the cycle).
“Pay $100 for a license expiring May 31 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most 24 months.)”
Source: nyc.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Show 13 more facts
Nassau County's posted (undated) locksmith license package lists $400.00 for a new two-year license.
“Nassau County Locksmith License fees are as follows: 1. New application for a two (2) year license: $400.00”
Source: nassaucountyny.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Nassau County's posted (undated) package lists a $75.00 fingerprint fee per person.
“2. Fingerprint Fee for each person: $ 75.00”
Source: nassaucountyny.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Suffolk County's Division of Consumer Affairs licenses specific businesses in the county.
“Consumer Affairs is dedicated to resolving complaints, enforcing Suffolk County Code, obtaining restitution for Suffolk County Consumers and licensing specific businesses within Suffolk County.”
Source: suffolkcountyny.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The Consumer Affairs licensing page links its 'Licensed Occupations Law' to Chapter 563 of the Suffolk County Code on ecode360.
“Licensed Occupations Law”
Source: suffolkcountyny.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Chapter 563 (Licensed Occupations) ends with Article XI, Electricians and Plumbers; the code-wide searches below found no locksmith provision in it or elsewhere.
“Article XI Electricians and Plumbers”
Source: ecode360.com · checked October 13, 2026
Chapter 563 was adopted by the County Legislature in 1974.
“Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 7-9-1974 by L.L. No. 21-1974”
Source: ecode360.com · checked October 13, 2026
A search of the full Suffolk County Code on ecode360 for 'locksmith' returned no results.
“No results found...”
Source: ecode360.com · checked October 13, 2026
The Westchester County Consumer Protection Code (Chapter 863) has a licensing article for the alarm systems business.
“ARTICLE XV. - LICENSING OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE ALARM SYSTEMS BUSINESS”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Chapter 863's other licensing article covers the home improvement business.
“ARTICLE XVI. - LICENSING OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN HOME IMPROVEMENT BUSINESS”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Chapter 863 runs to Article XXX; none of its thirty article titles (read on the chapter's table of contents) is about locksmiths.
“ARTICLE XXX. - REGULATING THE SALE OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING DEXTROMETHORPHAN WITHIN THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Article XVI was amended as recently as Local Law 10-2025 (June 3, 2025), so the code checked is current to at least mid-2025.
“(Added by L.L. No. 3-1987 [7]; L.L. No. 10-2025, § 3, 6-3-2025)”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
The Department of Consumer Protection's Contractors and Trades section offers home improvement contractor and plumber/electrician licensing pages, with no locksmith page.
“Contractors and Trades Choosing A Home Improvement Contractor Home Improvement Contractors Plumber and Electrician Licensing”
Source: consumer.westchestercountyny.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A full-text Municode search of the whole Westchester County code for 'locksmith' returned no results (the same search of the county's posted local laws also returned none).
“0 results”
Source: library.municode.com · checked October 13, 2026
Sales tax on locksmith work in New York
Rates, local taxes and how New York treats labor and repair charges: sales tax facts for New York.
Running a locksmith business in New York 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.
New York locksmith license questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith in New York?
No. New York has no state locksmith license, but New York City and Nassau County license locksmiths themselves. A search of New York's laws for locksmith finds one section, which exempts locksmiths at work from the ban on selling or possessing car master keys.
Do cities or counties in New York license locksmiths?
Nassau County and New York City 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 New York locksmith business on IntelliDrive OS
$79/month per business, billed monthly, with unlimited users.
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.