Texas locksmith license
Yes. Texas licenses locksmiths through the Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program, not TDLR. A locksmith company needs a Class B security services contractor license, and each locksmith it employs needs an individual locksmith license.
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 37 quoted facts from official pages
Texas at a glance
- State license
- Yes, a statewide license
- License types
- 4
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- City and county rules
- See the notes below
License types
As the agency names them.
Company
Class B - Security Services Contractor company license (locksmith company service)
Required to act as, or offer the services of, a locksmith company (Occ. Code 1702.102, 1702.103). A business is a locksmith company if it sells/installs/services mechanical security devices, advertises using the term 'locksmith', or uses 'locksmith' in its name (1702.1056). DPS lists Locksmith as one of the Class B services.
Manager
Company representative (qualifying individual for the company license)
Must meet the locksmith experience/education option in 37 TAC 35.123 and pass the DPS company-representative examination (37 TAC 35.41, 35.42).
Individual
Locksmith individual license
Required for an individual employed as a locksmith; the individual must also be employed by a company license holder (Occ. Code 1702.221). Called a 'registration' before the 2019 amendments (S.B. 616).
Other
Owner individual license (owner of 51% or more)
An owner who owns at least a 51 percent interest in a company license holder must obtain an individual license (Occ. Code 1702.221(b)(2)).
Requirements
Only what the official pages state. A blank means we could not confirm it.
- Minimum age
- 18
- Training or experience
- Company representative must have two consecutive years of full-time locksmith-related experience, OR complete a DPS-approved 48-hour basic locksmith course and a 600-hour fundamentals of locksmith course, pass a DPS-approved basic locksmith proficiency exam (12+ subjects), and have one year of full-time locksmith-related experience (37 TAC 35.123). No separate pre-licensing course was found for the individual locksmith license.
- Exam
- Company representative must pass the DPS written examination: a timed two-hour test of 50 true/false and multiple-choice questions; 70% to pass (37 TAC 35.42; DPS company-representative page).
- Background check
- Fingerprint-based criminal history check, including FBI records, for every license applicant, including at renewal (Occ. Code 1702.282).
- Insurance
- Company license: general liability insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage, $50,000 per occurrence for personal injury, and $200,000 aggregate (Occ. Code 1702.124).
Fees
From the agency's fee rules. Fees change, so check before you apply.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class B company license, original or renewal (license fee only) | $400 |
| Class B company license subscription fee (added to the $400 fee) | $12 |
| Locksmith individual license, original or renewal (license fee only) | $30 |
| Locksmith individual license total with $5 pocket card and $2 subscription fee (DPS fee schedule rev. 09/03/2019) | $37 |
| Pocket card fee for a new application or renewal that issues a new pocket card | $5 |
| Company representative re-examination | $100 |
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Locksmith individual license: 16 hours of continuing education every two years (37 TAC 35.161(l)). Late renewal: 1.5x the renewal fee if expired 90 days or less; 2x if expired more than 90 days but less than one year; no renewal after one year (Occ. Code 1702.302).
Working without a license
Violating Chapter 1702 (e.g., acting as a locksmith or locksmith company without the required license) is a Class A misdemeanor, or a third-degree felony if previously convicted under the chapter of failing to hold a required license (Occ. Code 1702.388). An unlicensed violator may also be assessed a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation (Occ. Code 1702.381).
City and county rules in Texas
Each entry is backed by the official sources quoted below.
Texas cities and counties
A company with a Department of Public Safety license does not need a license, permit or franchise from any Texas city, county or other political subdivision to do the licensed work (Texas Occupations Code § 1702.134).
What the official sources say
Each line is a short quote from the official page it links to, with the date we read it.
Texas DPS (not TDLR) regulates the private security profession, which includes locksmiths, under Occupations Code Chapter 1702. Page dated November 10, 2020.
“The Department of Public Safety (DPS) regulates the private security profession in Texas.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DPS's list of regulated occupations includes locksmiths. Page dated November 10, 2020.
“alarm systems installers and monitors, armored car couriers, electronic access control device installers, and locksmiths.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A locksmith company must hold a security services contractor license (Occ. Code 1702.102(a), text as of 2026-10-13).
“Unless the person holds a license as a security services contractor, a person may not: (1) act as ... locksmith company”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The security services contractor license is the Class B company license (Occ. Code 1702.103(a)(2)).
“Class B: security services contractor license, covering operations of a security services contractor”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DPS lists Locksmith as one of the services under the Class B Security Contractor Company License. Page dated September 11, 2020.
“Class B – Security Contractor Company License includes one or more of the following: Alarm, Armored Car, Courier, Electronic Access, Guard, and Locksmith”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A business acts as a locksmith company if it sells, installs, services or maintains mechanical security devices (or offers to), advertises with the term 'locksmith', or uses 'locksmith' in its name (Occ. Code 1702.1056).
“sells, installs, services, or maintains, or offers to sell, install, service, or maintain, mechanical security devices, including deadbolts and locks”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
An individual acts as a locksmith if the person sells/installs/services/maintains mechanical security devices or represents to the public that the person is a locksmith (Occ. Code 1702.2227).
“advertises or offers services to the public or represents to the public that the person is a locksmith.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
An individual employed as a locksmith must obtain an individual license (Occ. Code 1702.221(b)(1)(F)).
“An individual must obtain the appropriate individual license ... if the individual: (1) is employed as: ... (F) a locksmith”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Show 29 more facts
A licensed individual must also be employed by a company license holder (Occ. Code 1702.221(a)).
“the individual must: (1) obtain the proper individual license under Subsection (b); and (2) be employed by a company license holder.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
An owner of at least 51% of a company license holder must obtain an individual license (Occ. Code 1702.221(b)(2)).
“is an owner who owns at least a 51 percent interest in a company license holder.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Company license applicants must be at least 18 (Occ. Code 1702.113(a)).
“An applicant for a company license or security officer commission must be at least 18 years of age”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Individual license applicants must meet the same qualifications as company license applicants, including the age 18 minimum (Occ. Code 1702.229(a)).
“An applicant for an individual license must meet the qualifications required under Section 1702.113 for a company license applicant.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DPS runs a criminal history check, including FBI records, on each license applicant (Occ. Code 1702.282(a)).
“The department shall conduct a criminal history check, including a check of any criminal history record information maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Fingerprints are submitted with each application, including renewal applications (Occ. Code 1702.282(a)).
“including an application for the renewal of a license or security officer commission issued under this chapter, fingerprints in the manner prescribed by the department”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Company license general liability insurance minimum: $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage (Occ. Code 1702.124(c)(1)).
“The insurance policy must contain minimum limits of: (1) $100,000 for each occurrence for bodily injury and property damage”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Company license insurance also requires $50,000 per occurrence for personal injury and $200,000 aggregate (Occ. Code 1702.124(c)(2)-(3)).
“(2) $50,000 for each occurrence for personal injury; and (3) a total aggregate amount of $200,000 for all occurrences.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Locksmith company representative qualification option one: two consecutive years of full-time locksmith-related experience (37 TAC 35.123, as published in DPS's 2023-2024 Statutes & Rules edition, PDF dated January 2025).
“(1) Qualification option one. Two (2) consecutive years of full-time locksmith-related experience”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Option two requires a DPS-approved 48-hour basic course plus a 600-hour fundamentals course (37 TAC 35.123(2)(A), DPS 2023-2024 edition).
“Successful completion of a department approved forty-eight (48) hour basic locksmith course and a six hundred (600) hour fundamentals of locksmith course”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Option two also requires a DPS-approved basic locksmith proficiency exam and one year of full-time experience (37 TAC 35.123(2)(B)-(C), DPS 2023-2024 edition).
“a basic locksmith proficiency exam that covers a minimum of twelve (12) locksmith subjects ... (C) One (1) year of full-time locksmith related experience.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The company representative exam is a timed two-hour, 50-question test. DPS page dated September 11, 2020.
“The examination is a timed, two-hour test, consisting of 50 true / false and multiple-choice questions.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A score of 70% is required to pass the company representative exam (DPS page dated September 11, 2020; also 37 TAC 35.42(a)).
“A score of 70 percent or greater is required to pass the examination.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Class B license fee is $400 for original and renewal (37 TAC 35.131(a) figure, DPS 2023-2024 edition).
“Class B license (original and renewal) … $400”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
DPS fee schedule (rev. 09/03/2019) lists the locksmith individual license at $30 plus $5 pocket card and $2 subscription, $37 total, for original or renewal.
“LOCKSMITH, AND ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL DEVICE INSTALLER (INCLUDING GATE OPERATOR) Original / Renewal 30 5 2 $37”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Noncommissioned individual licenses are $30 under the current fee rule (37 TAC 35.131(a) figure, DPS 2023-2024 edition), matching the 2019 schedule.
“Noncommissioned licenses … $30”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A $5 pocket card fee applies to new applications and renewals that issue a new pocket card (37 TAC 35.131(b), DPS 2023-2024 edition).
“An additional fee of $5.00 will be charged for any new application or renewal requiring the issuance of a new pocket card.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Company license applicants pay a $12 subscription fee on a $400 application (37 TAC 35.132(4), DPS 2023-2024 edition).
“Each company license applicant shall pay the following subscription fee upon application: ... $12 for a $400 application.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The re-examination fee is $100 (DPS company-representative page dated September 11, 2020; also 37 TAC 35.131(a) figure).
“If the score is below passing and the applicant wishes to re-take the examination, a $100 re-examination fee is required.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Company and individual licenses expire no later than the second anniversary of issuance (Occ. Code 1702.301(b)).
“expire on the dates determined by the commission under Section 411.511, Government Code, but not later than the second anniversary of the date the license”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A license expired 90 days or less renews at 1.5 times the renewal fee (Occ. Code 1702.302(b)).
“expired for 90 days or less may renew the license by paying to the department a renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A license expired more than 90 days but less than one year renews at two times the renewal fee (Occ. Code 1702.302(c)).
“longer than 90 days but less than one year may renew the license by paying ... a renewal fee that is equal to two times”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A license expired one year or more cannot be renewed; the person must apply for a new license (Occ. Code 1702.302(d)).
“A person whose license has been expired for one year or more may not renew the license.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Licensed locksmiths must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years (37 TAC 35.161(l), DPS 2023-2024 edition; DPS CE chart PDF dated March 2025 says the same).
“All individuals licensed as locksmiths must complete sixteen (16) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.”
Source: dps.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Violating Chapter 1702 is a Class A misdemeanor, a third-degree felony after a prior conviction for failing to hold a required license (Occ. Code 1702.388(b)).
“a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the person has previously been convicted under this chapter”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
An unlicensed person who violates Chapter 1702 may be assessed a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation (Occ. Code 1702.381(a)).
“may be assessed a civil penalty to be paid to the state not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Hiring or contracting with an unlicensed person who is required to be licensed is also a Class A misdemeanor (Occ. Code 1702.386).
“An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Cities and counties cannot require their own license, permit or bond from a DPS company license holder (Occ. Code 1702.134(a)).
“is not required to obtain an authorization, permit, franchise, or license from ... a municipality, county, or other political subdivision of this state”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Before an entry (lockout) service, the customer must show government ID and sign an authorization, except in an imminent threat to a person or property (Occ. Code 1702.2865).
“shows the locksmith company or locksmith a government-issued identification; and (2) provides a signed authorization stating that the customer owns”
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Sales tax on locksmith work in Texas
The Comptroller lists locksmith services as a taxable security service, meaning a service that needs a license from the Texas Department of Public Safety under Occupations Code sections 1702.101 or 1702.102. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Rates, local taxes and how Texas treats labor and repair charges: sales tax facts for Texas.
Running a locksmith business in Texas on IntelliDrive OS
What the software does today, nothing more. It does not apply for licenses, file returns or give legal or tax advice.
Tax Vault for Texas sales tax (Square accounts)
On Square accounts, Tax Vault keeps a running record of the sales tax on your paid sales, works out the percentage to set in Square Savings' Automated Savings so the tax is put aside as you go, and shows your next filing due date. It does not file or pay your return.
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.
Texas locksmith license questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith in Texas?
Yes. Texas licenses locksmiths through the Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program, not TDLR. A locksmith company needs a Class B security services contractor license, and each locksmith it employs needs an individual locksmith license.
Who issues locksmith licenses in Texas?
Texas Department of Public Safety (Private Security Program), under Texas Occupations Code chapter 1702.
How much does a Texas locksmith license cost?
Class B company license, original or renewal (license fee only): $400. Class B company license subscription fee (added to the $400 fee): $12. Locksmith individual license, original or renewal (license fee only): $30. Locksmith individual license total with $5 pocket card and $2 subscription fee (DPS fee schedule rev. 09/03/2019): $37. Fees change, so check the agency's fee page before you apply.
How often do you renew a Texas locksmith license?
Every 2 years. 161(l)).
What happens if you work as a locksmith without a license in Texas?
, acting as a locksmith or locksmith company without the required license) is a Class A misdemeanor, or a third-degree felony if previously convicted under the chapter of failing to hold a required license (Occ. 388).
Can a city or county in Texas require its own locksmith license?
A company with a Department of Public Safety license does not need a license, permit or franchise from any Texas city, county or other political subdivision to do the licensed work (Texas Occupations Code § 1702.134).
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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