Do alarm companies need a license in Virginia?

The short answer

Yes. In Virginia a company that installs, services or monitors a burglar alarm or security camera for you is regulated by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), not by DPOR's contractor board. No person shall engage in the private security services business or solicit private security business in the Commonwealth without having obtained a license from the Department.^[1]

The employees who do the work are registered individually, and the business must show its license number in its advertising.

Who counts as an alarm company

The law has a specific definition. An electronic security business is any person who engages in the business of or undertakes to install, service, maintain, design or consult in the design of any electronic security equipment to an end user, respond to or cause a response to electronic security equipment for an end user, or have access to confidential information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user's electronic security equipment.^[2]

The equipment it covers: electronic security equipment means electronic or mechanical alarm signaling devices including burglar alarms or holdup alarms used to safeguard and protect persons and property, or cameras used to detect intrusions, concealment or theft.^[2] That is why a company installing security cameras falls under the same rules. An end user is any person who purchases or leases electronic security equipment for use in that person's home or business,^[2] which means you.

What the license and registrations require

Three layers apply to a company you might hire.

The business license. No person shall be issued a private security services business license until a compliance agent is designated in writing on forms provided by the Department.^[1] The compliance agent is the person responsible for the business following the rules.

Registered staff. No person shall be employed by a licensed private security services business as a central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician's assistant, or electronic security technician without possessing a valid registration issued by the Department, except as provided in the article.^[1] The roles are defined: an electronic security technician installs, services, maintains or repairs electronic security equipment, and a technician's assistant works as a laborer under the technician's supervision and may not make connections to any electronic security equipment.^[2] A central station dispatcher monitors burglar alarm signal devices, burglar alarms or other electronic devices used to prevent or detect burglary, theft or intrusion, or primarily to summon aid for other emergencies.^[2]

Background checks. A person employed as an electronic security technician must submit fingerprints to the Department for a national and Virginia criminal records search.^[1]

Who is excepted

The statute lists exceptions, and two matter to a homeowner. A material supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronic security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services is excepted from the licensing article.^[3] So is a person who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by an end user.^[3] A store clerk who recommends a kit is not a licensed alarm company; the company that comes to your house to install and monitor it is.

How to check a company

Ask for the license number before you agree to a visit. All private security services businesses in Virginia must include their license number on all business advertising materials,^[1] so it should be on the website, the flyer or the vehicle. Then confirm it with the state. DCJS reviews and processes all applications for registration, certification and licensure for individuals, businesses and training schools involved in providing security services, and has statutory authority to proceed with enforcement action against regulants in an effort to protect the public from unlicensed and unethical business practices.^[4]

Ask also whether the person at your door is a registered technician or sales representative, and get the license number into the written quote.

Fire alarms are a separate license

Burglar alarms and cameras are DCJS matters. Fire alarm systems fall under DPOR's contractor classes: fire alarm systems contracting means the service that provides for the installation, repair, or improvement of fire alarm systems that operate at 50 volts or less, and the ELE classification also provides for this function.^[5] If your project includes a fire alarm, ask the company which license covers that part.

Get quotes you can compare

DPOR's hiring guide advises getting at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications.^[6] Give each licensed company the same list of doors, windows, sensors, cameras and monitoring level. Pricing is covered in how much a monitored home alarm system costs in Virginia, and how to choose a home alarm system walks through the decision.

Stop and call a pro if

• The company cannot give you a Virginia license number. Do not sign a contract.
• The system needs to be hardwired into the home's electrical system. That is electrical work for a licensed electrician or contractor, not a plug-in job.
• The job includes a fire alarm. Ask which contractor license covers it.
• Someone at your door pressures you to sign. Step back and check the license first.

Getting help in Virginia

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