Private investigator licensing in District of Columbia

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in District of Columbia. Private detectives in DC are licensed by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection's Security Program, with fingerprinting by the Metropolitan Police Department. DLCP issues a Private Detective Business licence, a Private Detective Individual Business licence for sole operators and an individual Private Detective licence. Applicants need a notarised arrest affidavit, fingerprint-based checks and, under the DC regulations, a $5,000 surety bond.

Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Occupational and Professional Licensing Security Program, under DC Municipal Regulations Title 17, Chapter 20 (Private Detectives).

$5,000 surety bond for each licensed private detective (17 DCMR 2003); agency bond reported as $25,000 by secondary sources

Licences expire 31 October; renewal fees: business $935, individual business $412, private detective $500

Private Detective Business $1,000 new / $935 renewal; Private Detective Individual Business $500 / $412; Private Detective (individual) $500 / $500; MPD fingerprinting fees extra

1. Complete and notarise the Arrest Affidavit and Authorization to Release forms 2. Schedule fingerprints with the Metropolitan Police Department 3. Apply online through the DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing portal with the required documents for your licence type 4. File the surety bond and pay the licence fee 5. Renew online before 31 October

District of Columbia is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.