Unarmed, BSIS-licensed officers aged 21 and over for storefront cannabis retailers in Southern California, with gate and patrol coverage for licensed grows.
Dispensary security guards meet that rule by being on site whenever you are open. The rule does not require the officer to carry a firearm, and CAL Security Group staffs unarmed officers only. Delivery-only retailers are exempt. Licensees in one building may share security personnel, but each licensee stays responsible for a violation.
The other DCC security rules still apply: 24-hour camera recording at 1280 × 720 or better, at least 15 frames per second, with 90 days of footage kept (section 15044); commercial-grade locks (section 15046); and an alarm system that a licensed alarm company operator installs, maintains, monitors and responds to (section 15047). A guard company replaces none of those. Check the current rules on the DCC website and your city permit's conditions.
A dispensary keeps cash and easy-to-resell product behind a door anyone can walk up to.
One licensed officer while you are open is the legal floor. Busy stores add more.

The officer that section 15045 requires during hours of operation, 21 or older.
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A second officer watching the counter, cases and exit on busy days.
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An officer at closing for the lock-up and cash walk. The alarm itself stays with your alarm company.
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Overnight checks of doors, roof access and the lot at a closed store or grow.
↗Bring your floor plan and opening hours before the doors open, and we will write post orders to match and quote every open hour.
We write post orders with your manager before the first shift. They follow the business day:
The officer checks the lot, entry and back door before staff open up. Sales may run only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (section 15403), so post hours follow your permitted hours.
The officer screens ID at the entrance and runs the lobby line. Section 15402 puts the sales-area age and identity check on the retailer or a retail employee, so the post orders split the two checks.
Shipments may be accepted only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and not through a public entrance during business hours unless the store holds the single-entryway exemption (section 15422). The officer holds the back door and logs the vehicle.
The officer clears the lot and sales floor, stands by during the cash and product lock-up, and walks staff to their cars.
A licensee must notify the DCC and local police within 24 hours of discovering theft, diversion, loss or any breach of security (section 15036). The shift report gives you the times and facts. Besides officer name, guard card number and hours, it records:
Refused entries: no ID, expired ID or underage.
Incidents with time, description and action taken.
Deliveries at the back door, with times and vehicles.
Customers removed and the reason.
Equipment faults: a camera down, a sticking lock, a door that will not latch.
Loitering or consumption in the lot.
California does not require a licensed cultivator to hire security guards. The guard rule covers storefront retailers, and premises licensed only for cultivation are also exempt from the state camera, lock and alarm rules. Your city or county permit may still require them.
Section 15042 does apply. A premises closed to the public needs an ID and sign-in/sign-out procedure for everyone who enters, a record of each outside visitor (name, company, reason, date, times in and out), and an employee of the licensee escorting every non-employee.
A gate officer can run the ID check and the log. Between harvest and shipping, when a grow is worth the most, add a night officer or extra patrol visits.
From Ventura to San Bernardino, our licensed officers and 24/7 dispatch protect five Southern California regions. Click a pin or county on the map to see every city we cover.
Send your address, license type and opening hours. We will walk the store or grow and quote each post line by line.
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