California BSIS PPO #121830 · Licensed & Insured
Private Security Guards & Security Patrol — Hire in 24 Hours
Marked-SUV private security patrol from $15 / tour. Licensed unarmed and armed security guards from $28/hour. GPS-tracked tours, body-cam evidence, sunrise photo reports — the complete hiring guide plus a live 23-city service map below.
Sacramento private security, security guards, and security patrol — photo gallery
Security guard vs. security patrol: what’s the difference?
Short answer: A security guard is a licensed individual stationed at one location — fixed post, lobby, event, or standing overnight watch. A security patrol is a marked vehicle running randomized drive-by tours across multiple properties in one shift. Guards give continuous on-site presence (typically $28–$45/hour); patrols give rolling deterrence across many properties (from $15/tour).
Choose a security guard when you need:
- Continuous on-site presence at one location
- Front-desk, lobby, or visitor check-in
- Event security with crowd control
- Standing overnight watch (construction, warehouse, hospital)
- Immediate response — the officer is already there
Choose a security patrol when you need:
- Randomized nightly drive-by tours across a property
- Apartments, HOAs, retail plazas, or construction sites
- Marked-vehicle deterrence without a full-time salary
- GPS tour logs + timestamped photos + sunrise PDF
- Lowest-cost visible deterrent — from $15 per tour
Many properties combine both: a nightly patrol route plus a dedicated overnight guard on high-risk shifts. See the full side-by-side table below.
What each term actually means
The industry itself — any non-government protective service, from a single unarmed guard to a national contract force.
The licensed person: state-issued Guard Card (BSIS in California), fixed post or roving, unarmed unless separately endorsed.
The marked vehicle format — randomized nightly drive-by tours across a shared route, with GPS tour logs and a sunrise PDF.
Security guard vs. security patrol — side by side
| Security guard | Security patrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Dedicated on-site officer | Marked SUV, randomized drive-bys |
| Typical cost | $28–$45 / hour | From $15 / tour |
| Best for | Front desk, event, active-threat post | Apartments, HOAs, construction, retail plazas |
| License | BSIS Guard Card (+ firearm permit if armed) | BSIS PPO (Private Patrol Operator) |
| Deterrent visibility | Fixed — one location only | Rolling — 6–20 properties per shift |
| Evidence | Incident reports, body-cam | GPS tour log, timestamped photos, body-cam clips, sunrise PDF |
| Response time | Immediate (already on site) | 10–20 minutes (dispatched) |
How to hire a private security company (5-step checklist)
- Verify the PPO license. California uses the BSIS public license lookup — every state has an equivalent. No PPO number, no contract.
- Request insurance. $1M+ general liability, workers' comp, and commercial auto — with your property as additional insured.
- Get pricing in writing. Per-tour or per-hour, no fuel surcharges, no "trip" fees, no undisclosed after-hours multipliers.
- Confirm the evidence stack. GPS tour logs + timestamped photos + body-cam retention + a sample sunrise PDF before you sign.
- Lock same-night dispatch. Written guarantee with liquidated damages if a shift is missed — standard on any professional contract.
Private security pricing (2026 published rates)
Shared route, 4–8 randomized nightly tours, GPS + photo report by sunrise. Best for apartments, HOAs, retail plazas.
Dedicated on-site officer. Front desk, event, construction night watch, or standing post. 4-hour minimum.
Exposed-firearm permit + Guard Card. Cash-handling, high-threat post, executive protection. 8-hour minimum.
Sacramento-region service map — 23 cities, ZIP-level coverage
Every city below has dedicated city, ZIP, street, and landmark landing pages with local response times, ZIPs covered, and hyperlocal risk profiles.
Guard vs. patrol — every top Sacramento-region city
Same guard-vs-patrol comparison, city by city. Tap any image to jump to that city’s guard hub, patrol hub, and ZIP / street / landmark funnel.
Private security FAQ
Security guard vs. security patrol — what's the difference?
A security guard is a licensed individual stationed at one location — fixed post, lobby, event, or standing overnight watch. A security patrol is a marked vehicle running randomized drive-by tours across multiple properties in one shift. Guards give continuous on-site presence (typically $28–$45/hour); patrols give rolling deterrence across many properties (from $15/tour).
What is the difference between private security, a security guard, and a security patrol?
Private security is the industry — every non-government protective service. A security guard is a licensed individual stationed at a post. A security patrol is a marked vehicle running randomized drive-by tours across multiple properties in one shift.
How do I hire a licensed private security guard?
Verify the company holds a state Private Patrol Operator license (in California, BSIS PPO — ours is PPO #121830). Confirm each guard carries a valid Guard Card, workers' comp, and general liability insurance. Get pricing in writing per tour or per hour with no hidden fuel or trip fees.
How much does private security cost?
Marked drive-by patrol tours run from about $15 per tour on shared routes. Dedicated unarmed guards run $28–$38/hour. Armed BSIS exposed-firearm officers run $38–$55/hour. Long-term contracts (12+ month) discount 10–15%.
Armed vs. unarmed — which do I need?
Unarmed is right for 90% of apartment, HOA, construction, and retail patrol. Armed is warranted when you have documented threats, high-value cash-handling, bank branches, jewelry, cannabis, or repeated armed-suspect encounters. Armed officers carry a separate BSIS exposed-firearm permit on top of the Guard Card.
How fast can you start?
Same-night dispatch is our standard for existing route cities. New-city standing posts typically start within 48–72 hours after contract and site walk.
Do you provide sunrise reports?
Yes — every tour generates a GPS-stamped log with timestamped photos and any body-cam evidence clips, delivered as a single PDF to the property manager's inbox by 7:00 AM.
Are you insured?
Yes: $2M general liability, workers' comp, and commercial auto on every marked vehicle. Certificates of insurance are provided on contract signing and any additional-insured endorsements are free.
What areas do you cover?
Full nightly coverage across Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Natomas, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Antelope, Orangevale, North Highlands, West Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Placerville, Auburn, Loomis, and Granite Bay.
Can you replace an existing guard company?
Yes — most transitions take 5–7 business days. We handle the site walk, post orders, gate/key exchange, tenant notification templates, and a written 30-day performance guarantee.
Do you handle HOA and apartment complexes specifically?
Apartments and HOAs are our largest vertical. We run tow-tag enforcement, pool/amenity lock-up, breezeway sweeps, unauthorized-vehicle documentation, and after-hours tenant lockout escorts on the same shared route.
What about construction sites?
Copper-theft deterrence, generator/trailer checks, perimeter cut-fence documentation, and 24/7 on-site during high-value equipment stages. Standard is 4–6 tours nightly plus a dedicated overnight guard on active pour weeks.
Do you offer fire watch?
Yes — NFPA 601 compliant fire watch during suppression-system outages, hot-work permits, and post-fire re-occupancy periods. 30-minute log rounds, printable to your AHJ.
Do you offer event security?
Yes — unarmed de-escalation-first event officers, ID/wristband checkpoints, crowd flow, and armed off-duty coordination for high-profile events. Two-week lead time preferred.
Are your guards BSIS Guard-Card licensed?
Every officer on shift carries a current BSIS Guard Card. Armed officers additionally hold a BSIS exposed-firearm permit. Both are verifiable on the California BSIS public license lookup.
Do you use body cameras?
Yes — every guard wears a body camera on shift. Clips relevant to any incident are retained 90 days minimum and released to the property owner on written request.
Related private security hubs
Ready to hire private security tonight?
Same-night dispatch across all 23 cities. Written quote in under an hour.
Call (530) 902-9390