Locksmith license in New Jersey

New Jersey licenses locksmiths and locksmith businesses: exam, 3 years of experience, 10 training hours, fingerprints, insurance and a bond. Sources inside.

The short answer

Statewide license

Yes. New Jersey licenses individual locksmiths and locksmith businesses through the Division of Consumer Affairs, with an exam, experience, training hours and fingerprints.

Issued by: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee
The law: N.J.S.A. 45:5A-23 et seq.; rules N.J.A.C. 13:31A
Who needs it: Individual locksmiths
Locksmith businesses, which report each employee doing locksmith work within 30 days
What the source says it takes: At least 18 years old
No first, second or third degree crime conviction in the 10 years before applying
A high school diploma or equivalent
Pass the locksmithing exam
3 years of hands-on experience (at least 5,040 hours), or a 2-year U.S. Department of Labor locksmith apprenticeship
10 hours of training in the 3 years before applying (codes, ADA, safety, and New Jersey's alarm and locksmith law)
Fingerprints for a criminal history check
Business: $500,000 general liability insurance plus a $10,000 surety bond or insurance payable to the State

What to do in New Jersey

Apply with NJ Division of Consumer Affairs before you take paid work, and keep the license current. The agency's own page has the forms, the fees and the latest rules, so start there rather than with a third-party summary, this one included.

Once you have a number, put it where customers and Google can see it: on invoices, estimates, the van and your Google Business Profile. Some customers ask for it, and it shows you're a real local shop.

Local rules

We didn't find a city or county locksmith license in New Jersey. Local rules change more often than state law, so ask your city or county clerk.

Every state: ID and proof on every lockout

Whatever the license rules, check a photo ID and proof that the caller lives there or owns the car before you open anything, and keep a record of it. Our lockout authorization form gives you a signed record for the file.

Sources

Last checked October 2026. This page is a summary to help you find the right agency, not legal advice. If something here is out of date, tell us through the contact page.

All 50 states and DC · New Hampshire · New Mexico

Questions

Do I need a locksmith license in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey licenses individual locksmiths and locksmith businesses through the Division of Consumer Affairs, with an exam, experience, training hours and fingerprints.

Who issues locksmith licenses in New Jersey?

NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee, under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-23 et seq.; rules N.J.A.C. 13:31A. Its website has the current forms and fees.

Are there city or county locksmith rules in New Jersey?

We didn't find a city or county locksmith license in New Jersey, but local rules change. Ask the clerk in each city or county where you work.

Do I still need to check ID and proof of ownership?

Yes, in every state. Check a photo ID and proof that the person lives there or owns the car before you open anything, and keep a record of it.

Keep the paperwork on every job

LockCommand saves the customer's ID, proof of ownership photos and signature with each job, next to the invoice and the call recording.

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