To start a security guard company in Utah, you need a contract security company license from the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) in the Utah Department of Commerce. The company needs a qualifying agent who lives in Utah, works primarily for the company, passes an exam and has 6,000 hours of security management or law enforcement supervisory experience. Before serving a client, the company must carry general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate plus workers’ compensation. Unarmed officers need at least 8 hours of basic training; armed officers add at least 12 hours of firearms training. Licenses renew on November 30 of even-numbered years. The last section shows how CGuardPro, the guard management software used by 600+ security companies, tracks those cycles per officer.
Everything below was checked against the Security Personnel Licensing Act, Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 63, on the Utah Legislature’s site, and DOPL’s application and renewal pages, as of October 2026. Sections of the Act were amended in 2025 and 2026, so read the current version before you file. This is not legal advice.
Who regulates security companies in Utah?
The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), part of the Utah Department of Commerce, licenses contract security companies, armored car companies, and unarmed, armed and armored car security officers under the Security Personnel Licensing Act. DOPL works with a licensing board on rules, exams and training standards.
What does a contract security company need?
Utah Code 58-63-302 sets the company requirements. The center of them is the qualifying agent, who must:
- be a Utah resident;
- be responsible management personnel or an owner of the company, exercising material day-to-day authority over its business, with primary employment at the company;
- not act as qualifying agent or employee of another armored car or contract security company, not hold other regular employment, and not be a government employee;
- pass the exam set by rule; and
- show 6,000 hours of compensated experience as a manager, supervisor or administrator of an armored car or contract security company, or 6,000 hours of supervisory experience with a federal, military, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency.
That residency and exclusivity rule is the one out-of-state companies run into. You cannot borrow a qualifying agent who works for another Utah security company or lives elsewhere.
Background checks. Each company officer, owner, proprietor, trustee and responsible manager with direct responsibility for Utah operations provides fingerprints and completes a criminal background check, and none may have a felony conviction or a disqualifying crime.
Registrations. The company must be registered with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, and as required with the Unemployment Insurance Division, the State Tax Commission and the IRS.
Insurance. The statute requires comprehensive general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. The Act’s definition of “financial responsibility” (58-63-102) says a contract security company may only provide services to a client if it has a service agreement with that client and maintains:
- general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with riders for general liability, assault and battery, personal injury, false arrest, libel and slander, invasion of privacy, broad form property damage, property in the company’s care, custody or control, and errors and omissions;
- workers’ compensation of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence covering each security officer; and
- a federal employer identification number and an unemployment insurance employer account.
Fees are set by the Department under the state fee process; check DOPL’s fee schedule before you pay.
What do Utah security officers need?
Each officer holds an individual license. DOPL’s armed officer application page and the statute set out the training:
- Unarmed private security officer: a DOPL-approved basic training course of at least 8 hours, which the statute allows in classroom or online form, plus fingerprints for a background check.
- Armed private security officer: the 8-hour basic course, a firearms course of at least 12 hours, the required exam and a background check. Armed applicants may not be prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)).
Under 58-63-304, an armed officer license also covers unarmed work, so an armed officer does not need a second license. Off-duty peace officers working security for a contract company are exempt if their agency has a written off-duty policy and gives written authorization.
When do Utah licenses renew, and what continuing education applies?
DOPL’s renewal pages say contract security company licenses and officer licenses are due on November 30 of even-numbered years, a two-year cycle, with renewal notices emailed 90 days ahead. Company renewal requires current general liability and workers’ compensation insurance, active registration with the Division of Corporations, and a qualifying agent who still exercises day-to-day authority.
For officers, DOPL’s renewal page lists 32 hours of continuing education per two-year cycle. Armed officers need 16 hours of firearms training in addition to the 32, with at least 4 hours of firearm training every six months. That six-month firearms rhythm is the date most likely to slip if nobody is tracking it.
Utah security licensing at a glance
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) |
| Law | Security Personnel Licensing Act, Utah Code 58-63 |
| Company license | Contract security company |
| Qualifying agent | Utah resident, primary employment, exam, 6,000 hours of experience |
| Insurance | GL $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate with riders; WC $1M per occurrence |
| Unarmed officer | At least 8 hours of basic training |
| Armed officer | 8 hours basic + at least 12 hours firearms |
| Renewal | November 30 of even-numbered years |
| Continuing education | 32 hours per cycle; armed add 16 firearms hours, 4 every six months |
| Overtime | Federal FLSA: over 40 hours in a workweek |
How does overtime work for Utah guards?
Utah has no state overtime law, according to the Utah Labor Commission, so the federal Fair Labor Standards Act governs: non-exempt officers earn time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek, with no daily overtime. See the U.S. Department of Labor’s FLSA page.
How does software help keep the records?
Utah stacks several clocks on each armed officer: a two-year license, 32 continuing education hours, 16 firearms hours and a firearms session every six months. In CGuardPro, each officer and supervisor record holds credentials of the types you define, such as the DOPL license, firearms training and CE certificates, with number, issue and expiry dates and photos. A daily check alerts the office on a window you choose, from 7 to 120 days ahead, and repeats weekly until each one is renewed. It warns rather than blocks, and it does not look anything up with DOPL. See security guard license tracking, and Utah security guard software for scheduling, GPS clock-in and patrol records in Utah.
For payroll, CGuardPro sends approved hours per officer to Gusto as time sheets split into regular and overtime hours under the federal weekly 40-hour rule; payroll itself is run in Gusto.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses security companies in Utah?
The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) in the Utah Department of Commerce, under Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 63.
What experience does a Utah qualifying agent need?
6,000 hours of compensated experience managing or supervising at an armored car or contract security company, or 6,000 hours of law enforcement supervisory experience, plus an exam.
How much insurance does a Utah contract security company need?
General liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate with listed riders, and workers’ compensation of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.
How many hours of training does a Utah security officer need?
At least 8 hours of basic training. Armed officers add at least 12 hours of firearms training.
When do Utah security licenses expire?
November 30 of even-numbered years. Officers need 32 hours of continuing education per cycle, and armed officers add 16 firearms hours.
For other states, see our security guard license requirements by state and the license renewal checklist.