Quick answer
California locksmiths are licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Companies hold an LCO license and their technicians an LCE registration. To verify one, search the DCA license lookup at search.dca.ca.gov, choose BSIS as the board, and enter the business name or license number. The technician should show ID on arrival. Action Locksmith San Diego is licensed by BSIS.
In this guide
Who licenses locksmiths in California
Locksmiths in California are regulated by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, a bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs. A locksmith business holds a Locksmith Company license, abbreviated LCO. Individual technicians working for a company hold a Locksmith Employee registration, abbreviated LCE. Both require a background check with fingerprinting. A legitimate San Diego locksmith holds a current LCO license, and their technicians will carry ID.
How to look up a license
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1
Go to the DCA license search
The state's lookup is at search.dca.ca.gov. It covers every board and bureau, including BSIS.
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2
Choose the bureau and the license type
Select the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, then the locksmith company or employee type.
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3
Search by name or number
Enter the business name or the LCO number.
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4
Read the status
You want a current, clear license with no disciplinary actions. An expired, cancelled or revoked status means keep looking.
What to check besides the license
- A local phone number and a real presence in San Diego. National call centers that dispatch subcontractors are where most complaints come from.
- The name on the license matches the name on the van, the ad and the invoice.
- The technician shows ID, and the name on it matches the company you called.
- The total price is quoted on the phone, including the service call, and it matches the invoice.
- For lockouts, the technician asks for your ID too. A locksmith who doesn't care whether it's your house isn't protecting anyone.
Why this matters more for lockouts
Emergency lockouts are the one time you'll hire a locksmith you didn't research, at night, under stress, from whichever ad loaded first, whether you're standing outside an apartment on Garnet Avenue or next to your car at Fashion Valley. That's exactly the moment unlicensed operators target. Two minutes on the lookup, or one question about licensing on the phone, filters most of them out. Our locksmith scams guide covers the rest of the warning signs.
What to do if something goes wrong
If a locksmith damaged your lock, charged far more than quoted, or couldn't show a license, you can file a complaint with BSIS through the Department of Consumer Affairs. Keep the invoice, photos and any texts. If the charge was on a card, you can also dispute it. Unlicensed locksmithing is a violation in California, and the bureau does act on complaints.
Written by Mark Hanna, owner and lead locksmith of Action Locksmith San Diego (Licensed California locksmith). Published , last updated . Prices mentioned are typical San Diego ranges; see the prices page for details.
