Local overview
Mobile Patrol in San Jose.
Mobile patrols suit San Jose’s spread-out properties, from Downtown San Jose to downtown and the Diridon Station area, where one patrol vehicle can check several sites in a night.
Under California’s Private Security Services Act (Business and Professions Code), companies providing contracted guard services need a Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Every guard needs a BSIS guard registration (guard card): an 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course before the card is issued, 32 hours of skills training within 6 months (16 of them in the first 30 days), and 8 hours of training every year after that. Armed guards also need a BSIS exposed firearm permit, with a firearms course, range qualification and assessment; a personal concealed-carry permit does not replace it. Check licenses on the BSIS verification page before service begins.
What officers do
Common duties for this kind of property. Your post orders decide exactly what officers do at your site.
Scheduled and random visits
Visit your property several times a night, at set or random times.
Exterior checks
Check doors, gates, windows, lighting and fences.
Lock-up and unlock
Lock or unlock buildings and gates at set times.
Alarm response
Respond to alarms and check the property, as your agreement describes.
Visible deterrence
A marked patrol vehicle on site discourages trespassing and theft.
Visit reports
Log each visit with times, findings and photos.
Choosing the right coverage
Mobile patrol is usually priced per visit or per hour and costs less than a stationed officer. It suits smaller properties, multiple sites, and places that need checks rather than a constant presence. Ask how many visits a night, how long each lasts and how visits are recorded.
Put these in your request
- Property addresses and size
- Visits per night and timing
- Lock-up and unlock tasks
- Alarm response needs
- Gates, codes and access instructions
- How visits should be recorded
What security costs in San Jose
Every quote depends on your site, schedule and duties. These starting rates help you plan before proposals arrive.
| Service | Starting at | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed officer | From $25 an hour | Standing posts, access control, patrols |
| Armed officer | From $32 an hour | Guards with a BSIS firearms permit |
| Event security | From $30 an hour per officer | Often with a minimum of about 4 hours per officer |
| Personal protection | From $70 an hour | Protection agents from licensed companies |
| Fire watch | From $25 an hour | Patrols while fire systems are out of service |
| Mobile patrol | Priced per visit | Depends on visits per night and drive time |
Starting rates. Billing rates cover the officer’s pay plus payroll taxes, insurance, licensing, supervision and company overhead. Your price depends on your site, schedule and duties, and comes from the provider’s written proposal.
Planning hours
One post staffed around the clock needs about 730 officer hours a month. An 8-hour overnight shift every night is about 243 hours. Multiply hours by the hourly rates in each proposal to compare them fairly.
What changes the price
Armed or unarmed
Armed posts cost more because of licensing, training and insurance.
Hours and schedule
Overnight, weekend and holiday hours, and 24/7 coverage, raise the total. One 24/7 post needs about 730 officer hours a month.
Number of posts
Each additional post or patrol adds officer hours, and large sites may need a supervisor.
Contract length
Ongoing contracts are usually priced lower per hour than one-day or short-notice coverage.
Duties and risk
Specialized duties, high-value goods or busy public sites can raise the rate.
What’s included
Supervision, reporting software, vehicles and equipment may be included or billed separately.
Choose with confidence
How to choose a security company.
A license, insurance and good supervision matter as much as the hourly rate. Check these with every provider you consider.
- LicenseBSIS lookup · PPO licenseActive
- OfficersBSIS guard card · 40-hr trainingConfirmed
- InsuranceGeneral liability · Commercial autoOn file
- References4 similar clients near Santana RowCalled
- SupervisionSupervisor visits every 4 hrs · 9 PM–5 AMAgreed
- In writingProposal covers: visits per night and timing · lock-up and unlock tasksSigned
- 1
Check the company license
Look up the company’s BSIS Private Patrol Operator license on the BSIS verification page, and match the legal name, number and status.
- 2
Check guard registrations
Ask for each guard’s BSIS guard card and training records (8 hours before the card, 32 within six months, 8 every year). For armed posts, confirm a current BSIS exposed firearm permit.
- 3
Ask for a certificate of insurance
Request proof of general liability and workers’ compensation coverage, and ask whether you can be named as an additional insured.
- 4
Ask for references
Talk to clients with similar properties, and ask how long they have used the company.
- 5
Ask about supervision
Find out who checks on officers, how often, and who you call at 2 a.m. when something goes wrong.
- 6
Get it in writing
Make sure the proposal covers post orders, staffing, rates for holidays and overtime, how absences are covered, reporting, and how to end the contract.
Get mobile patrol quotes
Tell us about your site and when you need coverage. Guardix helps connect your request with security companies that can serve San Jose. Each company confirms its own availability, pricing and terms.
Mobile Patrol questions
How many visits a night do I need?
It depends on your risks. Many properties start with two to four visits a night.
Is mobile patrol cheaper than an on-site guard?
Usually, because the officer and vehicle are shared across several properties.
Can patrols respond to my alarm?
Many providers offer alarm response. Ask about response times and what the officer does on arrival.
How do I know the patrol came?
Ask for visit logs with times, checkpoint scans or photos.
Can patrols lock and unlock my building?
Yes. Lock-up and unlock are common patrol tasks.
Are patrol officers armed?
Usually not. Some providers offer armed patrols for higher-risk properties.
More security services in San Jose
Ready when you are
Secure your San Jose properties.
Tell us what your property needs in one quick step. Guardix helps connect your request with licensed security companies, and each one answers in writing.
- RequestZIP, service, start date
- MatchedLicensed providers
- ProposalPrice and terms in writing
Guardix helps connect quote requests with potential security providers. The selected provider delivers the agreed security service. Availability, qualifications, pricing, reporting features, and service terms must be confirmed for the actual assignment.