Private Detectives
Connecticut General Statue 29-153, requires that any person or firm wishing to conduct business as a Private Detective Service in this state, must first obtain a professional license from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Guidelines for obtaining the license, eligibility criteria, and applicable license fees are detailed in the statute. Private Detective services are also required to register all employees working as investigators under their license. The Special Licensing & Firearms Unit (SLFU) is responsible for processing the license applications and employee registrations, as well as investigating complaints concerning violations of the license statutes.
Chapter 534 C.G.S 29-152u - 29-161aa
Qualifications
The commissioner may grant a private detective or private detective agency license to any suitable person, or to any corporation, association or partnership subject to the following qualifications: The applicant for a private detective or private detective agency license shall be not less than twenty-five years of age and of good moral character and shall have had at least five years' experience as a full-time investigator, as determined in regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 29-161, or shall have had at least ten years' experience as a police officer with a state or organized municipal police department. If the applicant is a corporation, association or partnership, the person filing the application on behalf of such corporation, association or partnership shall meet the qualifications set forth in this section for an individual applicant and shall be an officer of such corporation or member of such association or partnership.
The commissioner may, at his discretion, substitute up to one year of experience for a private detective license applicant upon proof of satisfactory participation in a course of instruction pertinent to the license. Employment as a security officer, does not qualify as time earned to obtain a private detective license. No license shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of any felony, (2) convicted of any misdemeanor under section 21a-279, 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, or equivalent conviction in another jurisdiction, within the past seven years, (3) convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude, or (4) discharged from military service under conditions that demonstrate questionable moral character.
If a private detective or private detective agency license is granted to an applicant based on the applicant's experience as an investigator with an organized municipal fire department, such license shall restrict the licensee to performing only the type of investigations performed for the municipal fire department. It does not grant a general investigation license.
No license may be granted to an applicant currently vested with police powers. The license of a corporation may be denied by the commissioner, or suspended or revoked, if it appears that ten percent or more of the stock of such corporation is held by a person who cannot meet the character standards required of the license applicant.
Applicants for a license are required to post a $10,000 performance surety bond with the state as a condition of license, and also provide a $ 300,000 General Liability Insurance Policy. Any person aggrieved by an act of the licensee, may proceed against same to recover damages.
Instructions to Applicants
The following materials must be submitted by all applicants for a private detective license:
- The enclosed application must be accurately completed and notarized;
- Two (2) recent photographs, (2” x 2”) full face, passport style;
- Pre-enroll online for fingerprints.Payment of $75.00 and $13.25 paid through CCHRS(online portal).Tracking bar code should be submitted with fingerprint card if fingerprints not electronically submitted (see attached instruction sheet for pre-enrollment).
- FBI Privacy Rights form
- A copy of the applicants current driving operators license;
- If the applicant has been in the military, a copy of his/her DD-214, NGB-22 or other documentation to indicate type of discharge and reenlistment codes;
- Motor vehicle abstract (driving record) for the past three (3) years from the motor vehicle agency in the state in which the applicant resides;
- Four (4) letters of character reference signed by the persons providing the reference. These letters are to be sent directly from the authors to the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit.The letters must include the addresses and telephone numbers of the authors; Letters sent by the applicant’s immediate family and form letters are not acceptable and will be returned.We will not accept those letters mailed to or hand carried by the applicant.The letters must be submitted directly to this office within 60 days of submission of the application;
- If the applicant is retired or separated from a Federal, State of Local Police Department, a letter of discharge must be sent from the former employer to this department.The letter from said department must include length of service, title(s) held, duties performed and date of retirement or separation;
- A recent credit bureau report (applicant only);
- Minimum High School Education, provide a copy of high school diploma, GED certification, college transcript or proof of training;
- If the applicant is currently under any psychiatric care, a letter from the attending psychologist is to be sent to this office to verify the applicants ability to hold the sought after license;
- The applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, a naturalized U.S. Citizen or a Legal Resident Alien.Proof of said documentation is required. (i.e. birth certificate);
- If the applicant is seeking a license as a private detective, they must meet the five (5) year full-time investigative experience under a licensed agency, or five (5) years experience as an investigator within a federal, state or organized municipal police department or ten (10) years experience as a police officer.If the applicant is seeking a license for security service, they must meet the five (5) years experience in a supervisory management capacity in industrial security, or a supervisor within a federal or state security agency, or within a state or organized municipal police department or shall have had at least ten (10) years experience as a police officer with a state ors organized municipal police department.(Please reference Connecticut General State Statutes, Chapter 534, Sections 29-153 through 29-161k);
- Documentation from previous investigative or security employment verifying license eligibility must indicate, in chronological order, the following: date of hire and termination, duties performed (what, where and how long) in each position and reason for leaving employment.All information from previous employer(s) must be sent directly from past employers(s) to the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit.All letters must include telephone numbers and addresses of past employer(s);
- Out of state applicants must submit written verification from the state agency regulating private detective/security companies stating the applicants name, type of license held, length of time the applicant has been the license holder and if the license is current and in good standing;
- If a Corporate license or an LLC is being sought, a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation or LLC documentation from the Connecticut Secretary of State must be submitted.If the corporate entity is an out-of-state corporation, a copy of the Certificate of Authority to do Business as a Foreign Corporation from the Connecticut Secretary of State must be included.No corporate license will be issued until said documentation has been supplied to the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit;
- Corporate Officials.All persons engaged as Corporate Officials must be registered with the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit.(Corporate Official refers to President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer only).Failure to register a Corporate Official may result in your license not being issued.Refer to Connecticut General State Statutes, Chapter 534, Section 29-154a and Section 29-161h.(Corporate Officials may not work in the capacity of investigator, security guard, or body guard, unless he/she is properly registered as such);
- Corporate Officials.Each Corporate Official must complete the DPS-366-C,
- (Application for License), indicating that he/she is a Corporate Official.Each Corporate Official must submit two (2) passport style 2” x 2” photographs, full face;
- Corporate Officials.Pre-enroll online for fingerprints.Payment of $75.00 and $13.25 paid through CCHRS (online portal).Tracking bar code should be submitted with fingerprint card if fingerprints not electronically submitted (see attached instruction sheet for pre-enrollment).
- Corporate Officials.FBI Privacy Rights form;
Fee Structure
The following license classification and fee structures apply:
- The license for an individual private detective shall be as a private detective. The fee for an individual private detective license shall be $1,450.00 for the initial 2-year license and $625.00 for 2-year renewal.
- The license for a corporation, association or partnership shall be as a private detective agency. The fee for a private detective agency license shall be $1,750.00 for the initial 2-year license and $1000.00 for 2-year renewal.
- The license for an individual private detective-fire shall be as a private detective-fire. The fee for an individual private detective-fire license shall be $ 1450.00 for the initial 2-year license and $ 625.00 for 2-year renewal.
- The license for a corporation, association or partnership shall be as a private detective-fire agency. The fee for a private detective-fire agency license shall be $1,750.00 for the initial 2-year license and $1000.00 for 2-year renewal.
All of the above licenses shall be issued for a period of 2 years. An application must be submitted every two years thereafter to renew the license for an additional two years term.
License Renewal
A private security company license is issued for a period of 2 years. Ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of a license, the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit will mail the licensee a renewal application. The renewal application includes Form DPS-331-C (Renewal Application), Form DPS-363-C (Verification of Performance Bond), and a list of all registered employees. The licensee must complete and submit the application prior to the expiration of the license. The application will be reviewed by SLFU to determine the continued eligibility of the licensee to retain the license. A list of the various license classifications and fees is contained in this website. The licensing fee shall be made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Connecticut" in the form of a check or money order. No cash is accepted
Employee Registrations
Immediately upon the hire of any investigator, a private detective firm is required to register such employee with the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit. The cost of registering the employee is a one (1)-time application fee of $ 40.00 per employee. The application (DPS 688-c) and instructions for registering an employee(s) can be found in the Forms section of this website. The employer is required to submit photographs and fingerprint cards (State & FBI) with two (2) Checks or Money Orders, one in the amount of $ 75.00 and the other in the amount of $13.25, payable to the Treasurer, State of Connecticut. A criminal history background check will be run on the prospective employee(s). The employer will be notified of the registration or denial of the employee. Failure to register an employee may result in the suspension or revocation of the employer's Private Detective License.
Upon registration, the employer shall issue each investigator an identification card as prescribed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The card shall contain the name, photograph and index fingerprint of the employee; the name and business address of the employer; the employer's license number and expiration date; and a certification that the named employee is employed as an investigator or agent of the licensee. The identification card must be carried on the employee's person at all times when engaged in the activities of the employer.
Neither a licensed Private Detective or Investigator or an agent employed by a Private Detective firm, may wear, carry or possess any type of badge or shield. This activity is specifically prohibited. Further, the employer is required to notify the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit within 5 business days of the resignation, termination or firing of any employee(s) registered as an investigator. The employer is also required to provide the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit with an updated list of employees, including assigned investigators, each year, upon renewal of their license.
Forms
| Form Number | Form Name |
| DPS-366-C | Application for Private Detective / Security Service License* |
| DPS-363-C | Bond form for Private Detective/Security Service License (Reminder - prior to licensing a Private Detective Licensee needs a $300,000 General Liability Insurance Policy) |
| DPS-331-C | Renewal Application for license as Private Detective/Security Service License |
| DPS-688-C | Application for Employee Registration |
| --- | Administrative Directives to Applicants Seeking Private Detective/ Security Service License |
| ---- | Administrative Procedures for Registration, Reinstating and Terminating Guards and Investigators |
| DPS-249-C | Authorization for Release of Personal Information |
| --- | Tax Information Statement (Business Filing Status) |