Private investigator licensing in Idaho
There is no statewide licence in Idaho, but local licensing may apply.
Idaho has no state licence for private investigators or investigation firms; a 1998 bill (H0770) proposing a licensing board was not enacted. Some cities license PIs locally, for example Chubbuck, whose city code (Chapter 5.24) requires licences for private investigators and investigator agencies, with fingerprint checks. Investigators elsewhere should check with the local city clerk and register the business with the state.
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How to get licensed
- 1
Register your business with the Idaho Secretary of State
- 2
Ask the city clerk where you will be based whether a local PI licence is needed (Chubbuck requires one)
- 3
Get any local licence and background check required, then carry suitable business insurance
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Idaho.
How to qualify
- Firearms
- No PI-specific firearms permit exists; general Idaho firearms law applies
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
One-party consent
You can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Idaho
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Idaho?+
There is no statewide licence in Idaho, but local licensing may apply. Idaho has no state licence for private investigators or investigation firms; a 1998 bill (H0770) proposing a licensing board was not enacted. Some cities license PIs locally, for example Chubbuck, whose city code (Chapter 5.24) requires licences for private investigators and investigator agencies, with fingerprint checks. Investigators elsewhere should check with the local city clerk and register the business with the state.
How do you get a private investigator licence in Idaho?+
1. Register your business with the Idaho Secretary of State 2. Ask the city clerk where you will be based whether a local PI licence is needed (Chubbuck requires one) 3. Get any local licence and background check required, then carry suitable business insurance
Can an investigator licensed elsewhere work a case in Idaho?+
No state licence exists, so investigators licensed elsewhere can work Idaho cases, subject to any city licence where they operate
Can a private investigator record phone calls in Idaho?+
Idaho is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Associations for investigators in Idaho
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