Before you Apply – Requirements for a Security Business Licence
Identify a Business Manager
The business must identify someone as business manager to:
- act on behalf of the business entity when applying for a security business licence; and
- to ensure the security business the licence is current and valid at all times.
The business manager must be at least 19 years of age and ordinarily resident in Canada. The business manager is the person responsible for the day-to-day supervision of licensed security workers (Security Services Act, section 14),
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Employ a Security Worker with Applicable Licence Type
The security business applying for a licence must identify an employee (or those employees) holding a valid security worker licence that has the same licence type as the business wishes to have on its licence.
The basic formula is if the business is applying for a security business licence with, for example, Locksmith and Alarm Installation licence types:
- the business manager must hold his or her own security worker licence with both full locksmith and full alarm installation service type indicated on their licence; or
- the business must employ an individual security worker with both full locksmith and full alarm installation licence types listed on their own security worker licence; or
- the business must employ two or more individual licensed security workers who carry one or more of the specific licence types locksmith and alarm installer. (Refer to section 3(2) and section 3(3) of the Security Services Regulation).
The exception is if the business is requesting a licence type Private Investigator services and the business manager is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of any of the business’s security workers, the business manager must hold his or her own Security Worker Licence with a full Private Investigator licence type (Security Services Regulation section 3(3)).
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Insurance
The business must have General Liability Insurance of NOT LESS THAN $1 MILLION coverage. A copy of documentation proving the business has current insurance in the required amount must be sent in with the application for a security business licence and when the business is renewing the security business licence. (See s.8 of the Security Services Regulations).
If the security business has branch office locations, it is necessary that the security business’s insurance covers each office. Speak with the business’s insurance agent for more information.
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Vehicle Documentation – Armoured Car Guard
To have Armoured Car Guard on the security business licence, the Registrar must be provided with:
- proof of possession (ownership, lease or rental) of an approved armoured car
- proof of liability insurance
- a copy of a safety certificate issued under section 37.04 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, BC Reg. 26/58 (See also s. 4(3)(e) of the Security Services Regulation).
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General Business Information
When applying for a security business licence, the following information must be included with the application form:
- type of company (registered or non-registered, sole proprietor or partnership, corporation)
- legal business entity name, trade name (also known as ‘doing business as’ name, if applicable) address, telephone number, e-mail address, and
- copies of registration documents (if applicable).
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Branch Offices
If the business has branch security business offices, the Registrar must be provided with address, branch manager name and phone number for each office listed. When the head business office is issued their security licence, it will receive a copy of the licence for each listed branch office. Under the Security Services Act, it is mandatory that the security business and its branch offices have the licence posted at all times while operating.
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Controlling Members of a Business
All the individuals who control or have the ability to control the security business operation must disclose certain information as per section 13 of the Security Services Act; section 4(2)(c) of the Security Services Regulation.
The business manager must identify all controlling members, describe the position they hold in the business and will advise the Registrar which of these individuals have a current Security Worker Licence.
For controlling members who do not have a current Security Worker Licence, the business manager will have them complete their own forms and provide documentation that must be submitted with the application for a business licence. For more information, see section of this website Controlling Member of a Security Business.
The business manager should be familiar with the process the controlling members must comply with to ensure all documentation is submitted. Missing documentation and forms filled out incorrectly by these individuals can delay or halt the processing of the business’s application for a Security Business Licence.
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