On the ground
Seattle · Office and Commercial Building Security.
Office towers in Seattle stand around downtown and South Lake Union. Tenants want a friendly lobby by day and locked, checked floors by night.
Under Chapter 18.170 RCW, security companies must hold a private security company license from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). Every guard needs a DOL private security guard license: at least 8 hours of pre-assignment training and a passed DOL exam before working, post-assignment training after licensing, and 8 hours of refresher training every year. A temporary card allows unarmed work only. Armed guards need an armed endorsement, which requires a firearms certificate from the Criminal Justice Training Commission (an 8-hour firearms class plus qualification, renewed every year); a Concealed Pistol License does not replace it. Check licenses through DOL before service begins.
On post, every shift
Common duties for this kind of property. Your post orders decide exactly what officers do at your site.
Front desk
Greeting tenants and visitors and issuing badges.
Elevators and lobbies
Keeping lobbies orderly and helping lost visitors.
Deliveries
Logging couriers and sending packages to the right floor.
Floor checks
Walking floors after hours and checking doors.
Garage
Patrolling parking levels and entrances.
Tenant requests
Helping with after-hours access and lockouts.
Picking the right level of coverage
Lobby officers cover business hours. Night patrols check floors and garages. Around-the-clock desks suit large towers.
Put these in your request
- Building size and floors
- Lobby hours
- Visitor check-in system
- Garage and loading dock
- Tenant needs
- After-hours access rules
Planning a budget in Seattle
Your quote depends on the site, the hours and the duties. Use these starting rates to plan before proposals come in.
| Service | Starting at | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed officer | From $25 an hour | Standing posts, access control, patrols |
| Armed officer | From $32 an hour | Guards with an armed license and firearms certification |
| 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 DOL-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.
Before you sign
Vetting a guard company.
A license, insurance and good supervision matter as much as the hourly rate. Check these with every provider you consider.
- LicenseDOL lookup · company licenseActive
- OfficersDOL guard license · annual refresherConfirmed
- InsuranceGeneral liability · Workers’ compOn file
- References3 commercial building clients near Downtown and BelltownCalled
- SupervisionSupervisor visits every 4 hrs · 7 AM–7 PMAgreed
- In writingProposal covers: lobby hours · visitor check-in systemSigned
- 1
Check the company license
Look up the company’s Washington DOL private security guard company license and match its legal name and status.
- 2
Check guard licenses
Ask for each guard’s DOL security guard license and training record (8 hours before work, 8 hours of refresher every year). For armed posts, confirm the armed endorsement and a current CJTC firearms certificate.
- 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.
Ask for office and commercial building security proposals
Tell us about your site and when you need coverage. Guardix helps connect your request with security companies that can serve Seattle. Each company confirms its own availability, pricing and terms.
Questions about Office and Commercial Building Security
Can officers run our visitor system?
Yes. Share the system so providers can train officers on it.
Do office buildings need night coverage?
Many do, through patrols or a desk officer.
Can officers help tenants after hours?
Yes, within your access rules.
Do we need an officer in the garage?
Patrols usually cover garages; busy garages may need a post.
Can coverage be shared across buildings?
Yes, with patrols across a campus.
How do tenants report problems?
Give officers a contact list and a simple reporting process.
Other services in Seattle
Next step
Ready to cover your Seattle office building?
Send one short request. Guardix passes it to DOL-licensed security companies, and each one replies with a written proposal.
- 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.