How to Check a Locksmith in Broward County: A Pompano Beach Guide
Updated: November 2026
There's no locksmith license to look up anywhere in Broward County — the county stopped licensing locksmiths on July 1, 2021, and no Florida agency issues one either — so check the business instead: its registration on Sunbiz, its Pompano Beach tax receipt, its insurance, and a total price you get before work starts. A "Florida License #" on a locksmith ad doesn't point to any state license.
- Licensed & insured
- 6-month workmanship warranty
- About 20 min to you
Why is there no license to check?
Broward County's consumer protection division no longer registers locksmith businesses or licenses locksmiths and apprentices, after Florida HB 735 took effect July 1, 2021 (Broward County). State law now says that licensing of occupations is "expressly preempted to the state," and older local licenses expired July 1, 2023 (Florida Statutes 163.211). Palm Beach County's consumer office puts it in one line: there is no professional licensing for locksmiths in Florida (Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs).
Some AI answers and ads still claim Broward requires a locksmith license. It hasn't since 2021.
Six checks that do work
- Is the company real? Search its exact name on Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations site, which can search by entity name, officer or registered agent.
- Does it hold a Pompano Beach tax receipt? Businesses located inside city limits need a City Business Tax Receipt, then the Broward County one. The city's offices are at City Hall, 100 West Atlantic Boulevard, open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. — the place for tax receipts, permits and code questions, never for getting a door open. The city's published list isn't official, so call the BTR office at (954) 786-4668 to confirm one is active (City of Pompano Beach).
- Is it insured? Ask for proof of insurance in case your door or car is damaged (Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs).
- Does the person on the phone give a real business name? A generic "locksmith service" is a warning sign (FTC consumer guide, archived).
- Will they quote the total? The FTC guide says to get an estimate of the total cost, confirm that a very low one covers all fees, and ask the locksmith to bring it in writing.
- Do they show ID and ask for yours? A careful locksmith confirms that you own the home or car before opening it.
Membership in the Associated Locksmiths of America is optional; the Palm Beach County guide lists it as one thing to look for.
Red flags at a glance
| You hear or see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| "$19 service call" | The trip only; the opening is billed on top |
| No company name on the van, card or invoice | Hard to find them again if something goes wrong |
| A higher price once they arrive | The FTC guide says to think about calling someone else |
| Drilling before trying to pick | Turns a lockout into a new-lock bill |
| Cash only, or a large deposit | After storms, Broward's hurricane guide says to avoid paying cash and large advance payments |
After a hurricane
Broward's hurricane guide has a contractor-safety section: avoid paying cash, avoid anyone who wants a large advance payment, and report price gouging to the hotline at 1-866-966-7226 (Broward County hurricane guide).
How we answer the same checks
- Registered name: Pompano Beach Mobile Locksmith LLC — search that exact name on Sunbiz.
- Licensed: City of Pompano Beach Business Tax Receipt.
- Insured: a commercial general liability policy. Associations, towers and managers who want it on file can ask for the certificate.
- Who comes: usually David E.; whoever comes, you get his name first and he shows photo ID — see about us.
- Price: told before we drive, the same day or night; nothing starts until you say yes. Standard house lockout from $95, standard rekey $95 for the first lock; smart and high-security locks get a phone quote. Full list on prices.
Quick answers
Is a license required for a locksmith in Broward?
No locksmith license exists to hold, from the county or from the state, since HB 735 (Broward County). A business working inside Pompano Beach still needs its city Business Tax Receipt.
What does "licensed, bonded and insured" mean on a Florida locksmith ad?
"Insured" can be checked — ask for the certificate. For "licensed," ask what it refers to: in Broward the only thing it can honestly mean is a city or county Business Tax Receipt, the document once called an occupational license. A "Florida License #" points to nothing.
Where do I complain about a locksmith?
Keep the invoice and every text. The FTC consumer guide names the FTC as a place to report a locksmith problem.
Should I save a locksmith's number before I need one?
Yes. In a 2008 notice the FTC advised researching one ahead of time and saving the number (FTC).
· [Locked out right now?](/guides/locked-out/)
Locked out? Call — the price comes first.
Same price at any hour. A Pompano Beach technician comes to you.
Call (954) 906-3733