Private Security & Investigative Services

Terms and Definitions

Address of Service
Addresses located inside Ontario for those applying for a licence who reside outside of the province.

Authorized equipment
Includes firearms, batons, handcuffs and animals. Cable and strip ties are prohibited. The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 allows agencies to issue equipment to their employees if certain conditions are met.

Certified Cheque
A personal or company cheque that is certified as valid by the bank from which it is drawn.

Dual Licence/Dually Licensed – Individual
Individuals licensed to act as both a security guard and a private investigator.

Dual Licence/Dually Licensed – Agency
Agencies licensed to provide the services of both security guards and private investigators.

In-house Security Personnel
Security guards and private investigators employed by businesses that do not sell either service, such as hospitals, retail malls, condominiums, bars and casinos.

Licensed Agency
An agency or business that directly sells the services of security guards and/or private investigators.

Loss Prevention Personnel
A plain-clothes security guard who protects against theft.

Peace Officer
Any public-sector person charged with upholding the peace, including, but not limited to: mayors, sheriffs, justice of the peace, correctional officers, police officers, probation and parole officers, customs/immigration officers and fishery officers.

Prescribed Offence
A serious offence as listed in the Clean Criminal Record regulation (link). A person convicted of a prescribed offence and not granted a pardon is not eligible to hold a security guard or private investigator licence.

Private Investigator
A person who is paid to conduct investigations:

in order to provide information
into the character or actions of a person
into an individual’s business or occupation
into the whereabouts of persons or property

Registered Business
A business which employs its own in-house security personnel, but does not sell security services. Businesses that only employ security staff from a licensed security agency do not need to register.

Security Consultant
An individual who is paid to provide advice about security requirements but does not sell or recommend the services of private investigators or security guards.

Security Guard
A person employed and paid to do work that consists primarily of protecting people or property, including bodyguards, bouncers and loss prevention personnel.

Under Review
Your licence application could be under review if you: