Michigan access control installers and the rules they work under

Alarm companies in Michigan answer to two different laws. The Security Alarm Systems Act is the more recent one. An access control system that sends signals to a central monitoring station is part of what the law defines as a security alarm system. The off-site office that keeps a constant watch on alarms is a central monitoring station.

A system provider is anyone who sells, installs, or repairs those systems. Under section 338.2183, a provider must first submit a registration statement to the state. A bond of $25,000 is required as well, unless the firm carries insurance with $25,000 for property loss and $100,000 for 1 person's injuries.

Security alarm system contractors are licensed under the older Private Security Business and Security Alarm Act. The license rule makes it a felony to work without a license; penalties can reach 4 years in prison or a fine of $1,000.

A qualifying officer is named by every Security Alarm Contractor Agency. That person must be at least 21 and have finished high school or an equivalent, with no felony conviction, as LARA's initial license page states.

A physical Michigan location is required, plus 5 reference statements. Sign-off from the sheriff or police chief in its area, plus the county prosecuting attorney, is also required for the company. The fee to apply is $500.

PSI administers the state exam. Each attempt at the exam is $79, and you need a score of 70% to pass.

Under Michigan's electrical law, doing wiring without a license is not allowed, unless you fall under an exemption. Installing or servicing security alarm systems, as defined by the alarm acts, appears on the list of exempt work.

If a card reader stands alone and has no connection to a monitoring station, it may fall outside both alarm definitions. The electrical exemption might not extend to that situation either. Talk to your local electrical inspector or LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes ahead of any work.

Individual cities may operate their own electrical licensing. Still, section 339.5733 stops them from requiring a provider to hold a license or permit for security alarm work.

Both Security Alarm Contractor Agency records and Security Alarm Systems Registration records appear when you check a license through LARA's Verify a License search. Look up the business by its name or license number, and be sure the record shows it as current.

For exit doors and maglocks, you can find the 2021 Michigan Building Code on the state's code books page; it took effect April 9, 2025. As of March 12, 2024, the 2023 NEC is the electrical code in effect.

No, because both alarm acts exclude fire alarm systems from what they define. Fire alarm jobs are handled under the electrical article, where specialty technician licenses are issued for that work.