Local overview
Construction Site Security in Tallahassee.
In Tallahassee, new building is concentrated in Southwood and the northeast. Job sites like these sit empty overnight and on weekends, when copper wire, tools, fuel and heavy equipment are most exposed.
Under Chapter 493, Florida Statutes, security companies must hold a Class B security agency license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing. Unarmed officers need a Class D security officer license, which requires at least 40 hours of training at an FDACS-licensed Class DS school (s. 493.6303). Armed officers also need a Class G statewide firearm license: a 28-hour firearms course taught by a Class K instructor, plus 4 hours of requalification every year (s. 493.6113). Confirm licenses through FDACS before service begins.
What officers do
Common duties for this kind of property. Your post orders decide exactly what officers do at your site.
Gate and access control
Control who enters the site, check deliveries against the schedule, and keep the gate locked after hours.
Overnight and weekend patrols
Walk fence lines, equipment yards and building shells on a set schedule while crews are gone.
Equipment and material checks
Check that machines, tool trailers, fuel tanks and stored materials are secured and untouched.
Trespass and theft deterrence
A visible officer and lit patrol routes discourage theft and keep trespassers off a dangerous site.
Fire and hazard watch
Report water leaks, fires, open trenches or broken fencing so they are fixed before morning.
Daily activity reports
Log every round, visitor and problem, with photos where possible, for the project manager.
Choosing the right coverage
A gate officer suits busy sites with deliveries all day. Overnight and weekend officers protect sites when crews are gone. Mobile patrols can check smaller or lower-risk sites several times a night. Large projects sometimes pair a stationed officer with patrols of multiple phases.
Put these in your request
- Site size, phases and entry gates
- Working hours and when the site is empty
- Lighting, fencing and cameras on site
- Equipment and materials stored overnight
- Who may enter after hours
- How you want rounds recorded and reported
What security costs in Tallahassee
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 | Officers with Class D and Class G licenses |
| 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 Class B licensed agencies |
| 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.
- LicenseFDACS lookup · Class B agencyActive
- OfficersClass D license · 40-hr trainingConfirmed
- InsuranceGeneral liability · Additional insured: GCOn file
- References3 construction site clients near DowntownCalled
- SupervisionSupervisor visits every 3 hrs · 6 PM–6 AMAgreed
- In writingProposal covers: working hours and when the site is empty · lighting, fencing and cameras on siteSigned
- 1
Check the company license
Verify the company’s FDACS Class B security agency license, and any branch authorization, through FDACS licensing resources.
- 2
Check officer licenses
Ask for each officer’s Class D license (40-hour training). For armed posts, confirm a current Class G license and this year’s 4-hour firearms requalification.
- 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 construction site security quotes
Tell us about your site and when you need coverage. Guardix helps connect your request with security companies that can serve Tallahassee. Each company confirms its own availability, pricing and terms.
Construction Site Security questions
Do construction sites need guards every night?
Not always. Many sites use officers only when crews are gone, or when valuable equipment or materials are on site. Smaller sites often start with mobile patrol visits.
Can an officer also watch for fire hazards?
Officers can report hazards they find on rounds. If a fire authority requires a formal fire watch, ask for it specifically, because it has its own rules.
What should the officer do if someone is on site?
Your post orders should say: usually observe, report, call the police and your contact, and avoid confronting anyone.
Can I get coverage for one phase of the project?
Yes. Ask for a defined date range, and update the request as the project moves to new phases.
Can officers check deliveries?
Yes, if you give them the schedule and the process. They can log trucks, drivers and what was delivered.
How do I know patrols happened?
Ask how rounds are recorded, such as checkpoint scans, timestamps and photos, and whether you can see the records.
More security services in Tallahassee
Ready when you are
Secure your Tallahassee job site.
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.