How to Check a Locksmith in Broward County: A Plantation Guide
Updated: November 2026
You can't look up a locksmith license in Broward: the county ended locksmith licensing and business registration as of July 1, 2021, according to Broward County; the State of Florida doesn't issue a locksmith license either. What you can check is the business tax receipt, the name, the price and the person at your door. This guide shows how, with Plantation details.
- Licensed & insured
- 6-month workmanship warranty
- About 20 min to you
Why the license disappeared
Florida's HB 735 (2021) took the licensing of trades like this away from counties and cities, and the grace period for existing local licenses ran out on July 1, 2023 (Florida Senate). Broward even refunded people who had applied after its February 9, 2021 ordinance (Broward County). So a website that shows a "Florida License" number for a locksmith is showing something that doesn't exist as a state credential. Several sites serving Plantation still do.
What a real Plantation business does have
- A City of Plantation business tax receipt. Chapter 14 of the city code requires every person who runs or manages a business inside city limits to hold one, renewed each year by September 30 (City of Plantation). The LBTR desk is at LBTR@plantation.org or 954-414-7852.
- A Broward County local business tax receipt, one per location and category (Broward County).
- Insurance it can show you in writing.
- One name on the phone, website, vehicle and invoice.
Streets under the oaks.
Homes from the 1950s and 60s, many still on their first locks.
What a tax receipt proves, and what it doesn't
A business tax receipt shows the company is registered with the city or county and pays its local tax. It does not test skill, check a criminal record or prove insurance. Treat it as the floor, not the ceiling: a business that can't name its receipt is worth skipping, but one that can still has to pass the checks below. Ask for the receipt number on the phone; a real local business has it at hand.
Seven checks before you hire
- A total, trip included, for a standard lock. Refuse "service call" quotes.
- No night markup surprise. Ask now.
- Damage-free first. A standard lock seldom needs the drill.
- The price fixed before work. Any change needs your yes.
- An address that makes sense. A suite number that repeats the street number, or a shopping-mall address, is a warning sign. One directory listing for a locksmith uses 8000 W Broward Blvd, which is Broward Mall's address (Florida YIMBY).
- Reviews with dates and details that name the job and the area, not just initials.
- Two questions from Palm Beach County's consumer office: does the company run background checks, and does it carry workers' compensation (Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs)?
After a storm, be extra careful
Broward's hurricane guide asks residents to put agreements on paper, not to hand over cash, and to walk away from anyone who wants a big payment before the work. That guide also prints the number for reporting price gouging after a storm, 1-866-966-7226, for anyone who feels squeezed (Broward hurricane guide).
Signs a call went to a dispatch center
- The person answering won't say where the company is based.
- The quote is very low and vague.
- The arriving vehicle is unmarked and the business name on the invoice differs.
- You're pushed to pay by app transfer before any work, or at an ATM.
If something about a visit feels wrong, call Plantation police on the non-emergency line, 954-797-2100 (City of Plantation); the department's crime prevention unit also takes calls at 954-916-5601 (City of Plantation); in an emergency, dial 911.
Our own answers
Plantation Mobile Locksmith is a new business, opened in 2026, with a lead technician, Charlie D., 16 years in the trade and based in Plantation. No storefront; we come to you. Licensed & insured · City of Plantation Business Tax Receipt. Our commercial general liability certificate goes to any HOA or building that asks. Payment comes only after the work, and the itemized invoice lands on your phone or in your inbox. Prices are listed on our price page, the same day or night, and you know the total before we set out. More about us on the about page.
Do Broward locksmiths need a license?
In general, no: Broward County dropped locksmith licensing in 2021 and Florida issues no state locksmith license. What the city and county do require is a local business tax receipt.
What's a fair price for a house lockout in Plantation?
Ours is $99 and up, trip included, and most bills land in the $99–164 range.
What should I do if I was overcharged?
Ask for an itemized invoice, dispute card charges with your bank, and contact Broward County Consumer Protection.
· [Locked out right now?](/guides/locked-out/)