Texas Locksmith Help
Source: Texas Locksmith Help (texaslocksmithhelp.com), part of the Local Help Stations network (localhelpstations.com). Last updated November 2, 2026.
Texas locksmith rules from official sources: DPS locksmith licensing, how to check a license, the lockout ID rule, renter rekey and lock rules, complaints and penalties. Information only.
Key facts (each checked against its source)
- Texas locksmith companies need a DPS security services contractor license, and each locksmith needs an individual license. (source: Texas Legislature)
- For a lockout, a locksmith must see a government issued ID and get a signed authorization, unless there is an imminent threat. (source: Texas Legislature)
- Landlords must rekey at their expense by the seventh day after each tenant turnover date. (source: Texas Legislature)
- An individual locksmith license costs $37 at DPS. (source: Texas Department of Public Safety)
- Licensed locksmiths must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years. (source: Texas Department of Public Safety)
Licensing and lockouts
- Do Texas locksmiths need a license?: Who needs a Texas locksmith license from DPS, for the company and for each locksmith.
- Why a Texas locksmith asks for your ID during a lockout: The Texas rule that a locksmith must check ID and get a signed authorization before opening a door or car.
- Who can unlock my car in Texas?: Locksmiths, auto clubs and repossession agents: who may open or rekey a car under Texas law.
- Who does not need a Texas locksmith license?: Retail key cutting, installing a lockset that comes already keyed, hotels and other exemptions.
- Smart locks, keypads and access control: which Texas license?: Electronic access control, alarm companies and gate or garage openers under Texas private security law.
- Texas renters: rekeying after you move in: When a Texas landlord must rekey, who pays, and how to ask.
- What locks must a Texas rental have?: The security devices Texas law requires on rental homes without the tenant asking.
- How fast must a Texas landlord fix or rekey locks?: Repair and rekey deadlines for Texas landlords, including after a break in.
- Can a Texas landlord change my locks?: Texas rules on lockouts for unpaid rent and the key a landlord must provide.
- Penalties for unlicensed locksmith work in Texas: Civil and criminal penalties in Occupations Code Chapter 1702.
- Texas locksmith experience and training rules: What DPS requires of a locksmith company representative, and continuing education.
- Do Texas cities license locksmiths?: Why a Texas locksmith needs a state license but not a city one, and city door permit rules.
How to, costs and complaints
- How to check a Texas locksmith license: Look up a Texas locksmith company and technician in the DPS TOPS search before work starts.
- What a Texas renter can do if the landlord will not rekey: Tenant remedies when required locks are missing or not rekeyed.
- How to complain about a Texas locksmith: Where to report a Texas locksmith: DPS for licensing problems and the Attorney General for deceptive practices.
- What a Texas locksmith license costs: DPS license fees for locksmith companies and individual locksmiths.
- Before a Texas locksmith starts work: A short checklist from the Attorney General and Texas law, plus the door to door cancellation rule.
Texas cities
All questions (FAQ) · All sources
Sources
- Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes): Occupations Code Chapter 1702: Private Security (checked November 2, 2026)
- Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes): Property Code Chapter 92: Residential Tenancies (Subchapter D, Security Devices) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Private Security Program: Private Security Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 09/03/2019) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Private Security Program: Private Security Statutes and Administrative Rules, 37 TAC Chapter 35 (PDF, 2024 compilation) (checked November 2, 2026)
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