Private Detective Agency License
On this page
Find out how to obtain a license to operate a private detective agency, whether you’re an individual or a company.
A private detective agency license is required to:
- Conduct business that provides private detective services for compensation
- Maintain an office for that business
- Employ individuals as private detectives
- Represent to the public as a private detective agency
Private detective services include investigations, evidence collection for committees or boards, non-uniformed personal protection, and locating and apprehending fugitives. Additional information and details can be found by reading the Maryland Private Detectives Act, codified as Title 13 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Current versions of any statute can be found at LexisNexis or on the Maryland General Assembly's website.
On this page:
- Application Process Changes/Updates
- Who can apply
- How to apply
- License Renewal
- Application fees
- Related documents
- Frequently asked questions
Application Process Changes/Updates
- January 2025 - All Professional Licensing applications are converted from a paper application submission process and fee collection to an electronic submission and fee collection process in the Licensing Portal.
Who can apply?
- An individual
- A firm
You must be at least 25 years old, of good character and reputation, and meet one of the following experience qualifications:
- At least 5 years working full-time as a certified or licensed private detective in Maryland; or
- At least 5 years as a full-time police officer with an organized police agency and have successfully completed a police officer training course recognized and approved by the Maryland Police Training Commission (MPTC).
- At least 3 years of investigative experience as a detective while serving as a police officer with an organized police agency.
- At least 3 years doing investigative work for the United States, the State, or a county or municipal law enforcement agency in Maryland, plus completion of the police officer training required by the MPTC.
- At least 5 years working as a full-time fire investigator for a fire department or law enforcement agency of the State or of a county or municipal corporation in Maryland, and have successfully completed training certified by the MPTC or the Maryland Fire-Rescue Education and Training Commission.
Pre-application requirements
- Obtain LiveScan fingerprinting and get a receipt from the LiveScan vendor documenting the submission of your fingerprints to the Maryland Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) and the FBI. Below is the information that you should provide to the LiveScan technician for fingerprinting:
Agency Authorization Number: 9400082495
Agency ORI Number: MDMSP6000
Reason Fingerprinted: MD Business Occupations and Professions Sections 13-101 & 13-804
Notes: LiveScan fingerprints must be submitted within 30 days of the date that the application is submitted to the Maryland State Police.
Applicants must sign and date the FBI Privacy Act Statement - PDF before submitting their fingerprints.
- A digital color passport style photograph.
- Proof of commercial general liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 for an agency who intends on employing 5 or more private detective employees
- Additional documentation as deemed appropriate by the Secretary
How to apply
- Create or log into your existing Licensing Portal account
- Complete the application in the Licensing Portal
- Upload your LiveScan fingerprinting receipt to the application document section
- Upload your digital photo to the application document section
- Upload proof of commercial general liability insurance if required
- Pay the required application fee electronically upon submission of the application to the Maryland State Police
Please allow 90 business days for completion of the application process.
Out of state applicants are required to review and comply with the requirements set forth in §13–604 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article prior to being issued a license .
Note: A private detective agency license is valid for 3 years, expiring in either January or July, depending on the initial application date. It is renewable for an additional 3 year term.
License Renewal
The Licensing Division will electronically send the licensee a renewal notice at least 90 days prior to expiration. The renewal fee is $200 for an individual and $400 for a firm.
- The notice will include
- A renewal application checklist.
- Expiration date.
- Required submission deadlines (15 days before expiration for timely issuance).
- Renewal fee.
- A $10 daily late fee for overdue statements.
- A warning that false statements may lead to license revocation.
The Maryland State Police must receive the renewal application 15 days before expiration.
To renew a private detective agency license, the licensee must submit the following with their application:
- Tax Compliance: Certification or other documentation confirming that the agency has paid all withholding and Social Security taxes for the past 3 years.
- Other State and Federal Obligations: Certification or other documentation confirming that the agency has paid all other obligations due to the State or federal government for its employees for the past 3 years.
- Workers' Compensation Insurance: A certificate from an insurance carrier or other documentation demonstrating current workers' compensation insurance coverage for its covered employees
- State Income Tax: A receipt from the Comptroller's Office or other documentation showing that the agency's State income tax has been paid for the past 3 years.
Application fees
All application fees are collected electronically upon submission of the application in the Licensing Portal. Application fees are non-refundable.
- Individual: $200
- Incorporated Firm: $375
- Combined Private Detective and Security Guard license (unincorporated): $375
- Combined Private Detective and Security Guard license (incorporated): $750
- Firm member: $42
- Representative member: $42
- Individual renewal license: $200
- Firm renewal license: $400
How Long is the Application Process
For applicant: After all perquisites have been completed, the Private Detective Agency application can be completed in the Licensing Portal within 45 minutes - 1 hour.
Processing time: Once the Licensing Division electronically receives and accepts the completed Private Detective Agency application and the required application fee, the applicant will be notified of the final disposition within 90 days.
Incomplete applications: Applications received by the Licensing Division will typically be reviewed for completeness within 5-10 business days. Applicants who submitted incomplete applications will be notified of the status of their application via email within 5 business days of the review.
Frequently asked questions
Private Detective Agency FAQs
An organized police agency is considered a police department of the State or of a county or municipal corporation of the State; a private police department that is allowed to enroll its officers in approved Maryland Police Training Commission schools and academies; or a law enforcement agency of the United States, of any state, or of any county or municipal corporation of any state.
No. The Maryland State Police will issue one agency license that lists the primary office and each branch office, and each branch office will be issued a certificate.
If the applicant is a firm, the firm shall appoint a firm member of good moral character and reputation as the representative member to make the application on behalf of the firm. That person must be at least 25 years of age.
The Maryland Private Detectives Act is Title 13 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Current versions of any statute can be found at LexisNexis or on the Maryland General Assembly's website.
Related documents
Questions?
Contact the Licensing Division via email, phone or in person:
1111 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-653-4500