Locksmith licensing by stateDo you need a license to be a locksmith?
In Colorado, no. Of Colorado and the eight nearby states below, only Texas and Oklahoma have a state locksmith license.
Below is what the laws say in each state, with links to the laws themselves, checked in September 2026. This isn't legal advice, and cities can add their own rules, so call the agency before you take paid work.
Colorado
No state locksmith license
There's no locksmith license in Colorado law, and none in the Denver or Colorado Springs city codes either. Colorado's electrical license also doesn't cover security systems of 50 volts or less.
Wyoming
No state locksmith license
No locksmith license in Wyoming law. Alarm and control wiring under 90 volts falls under the State Fire Marshal's low voltage contractor license.
Utah
No state license, but Salt Lake City has one
Utah has no statewide locksmith license, but Salt Lake City requires a city locksmith license with a police review, and Washington City regulates locksmith business licenses. Alarm companies need a state license from DOPL.
New Mexico
No state locksmith license
No locksmith license in New Mexico law. Security systems and door control circuits fall under the ES-3 low voltage contractor classification, and door hardware installation under GS-14.
Arizona
No state locksmith license
No locksmith license in Arizona law. Alarm businesses need state certification and a fingerprint clearance card. Having vehicle master keys is a felony unless you use them in lawful work, like a locksmith or a dealer.
Kansas
No state locksmith license
No locksmith license in Kansas law. Selling or possessing a vehicle master key is a crime, but locksmiths are exempt.
Nebraska
No state locksmith license
Nebraska repealed its locksmith registration in 2021. Master keys still have to be stamped DO NOT DUPLICATE and copied only with written permission.
Oklahoma
Yes, a state license
The Oklahoma Department of Labor licenses locksmith companies, managers, technicians and trainees, with fingerprints and a background check. Its definition of a lock includes automobile locks.
Texas
Yes, a state license
Texas DPS Private Security licenses locksmith companies and individual locksmiths, and a locksmith has to work for a licensed company. Before opening a car or a building, a Texas locksmith has to see the customer's ID and get a signed authorization.
Texas Occupations Code, chapter 1702
Texas DPS Private Security
Worth knowing
Access control can need its own license
Even where locksmithing doesn't need a license, keypads, card readers and alarm wiring can. Texas and Oklahoma license access control separately, Utah and Arizona license alarm companies, and Wyoming and New Mexico cover low voltage work with contractor licenses.
No license doesn't mean no rules
You'll usually still need a business registration or a city business license, and car key laws apply everywhere. Arizona, Kansas and Nebraska have vehicle master key laws. And whatever the law says, make sure the person actually owns the car or the house before you open it.
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