Massachusetts
Massachusetts licenses private detective businesses through the Colonel of the State Police under General Laws chapter 147, sections 22 to 30, which were not amended from 2023 through October 2026. A 2024 law added technological monitoring to the definition of abuse in family protective orders, and a Data Privacy Act that would ban selling precise geolocation data is in conference committee.
At a glance
- Authority
- Colonel of the State Police, through the State Police Certification Unit (G.L. c.147, s.25)
- Statute
- General Laws chapter 147, sections 22 to 30
- Rules
- Fees are set by the commissioner of administration under G.L. c.7, s.3B (c.147, s.26). State Police license requirements
- Who is licensed
- Anyone who engages in or advertises a private detective business, or a watch, guard, or patrol agency (s.23). Employees are not separately licensed but give the licensee a sworn statement (s.28). A licensee or employee who reveals information obtained in the work to anyone other than the employer or as the employer directs, except before an authorized tribunal, faces a fine of up to $500, up to 1 year in jail, or both, and licensees may not knowingly employ a person convicted of a felony (s.28).
- Qualifications
- At least 3 years of regular employment as a detective doing investigating work, former membership in a U.S. investigative service, former service as a police officer above the rank of patrolman, or at least 10 years as a police officer in good standing (s.24). Good moral character, certified by three reputable unrelated citizens who have known the applicant at least 3 years. A felony conviction in any state bars a license, and a conviction for unlawful interception of communications (c.272, s.99 or 99A) bars a license and requires revoking an existing one (s.25). Applicants may not currently hold police (POST) certification (State Police). No exam.
- Renewal
- Every year (s.25). The State Police list $550 for an original license and $150 to renew (apply or renew). A renewal applied for more than 6 months after expiration costs the original license fee (s.26).
- Continuing education
- None
- Bond or insurance
- A $5,000 surety bond conditioned on honest conduct of the business (s.26). No insurance requirement in the statute.
Changes, 2023 to 2026
Technological monitoring of a family member can be abuse
Adds “coercive control” to the definition of abuse in G.L. c.209A, s.1, which governs protective orders between family or household members. It includes a pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, coerce, or compel compliance that causes the family or household member to reasonably fear physical harm or have a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy, such as controlling, regulating, or monitoring the family or household member’s activities, communications, or movements, including through technological means. The act also raised the maximum fine for criminal harassment under c.265, s.43A from $1,000 to $5,000. The stalking statute was not amended.
For licensees: Technological monitoring of a family or household member can support a protective order when the coercive control elements are met; the act does not reach monitoring of people outside that relationship.
Pending: Massachusetts Data Privacy Act
The Senate passed S.2619 40–0 on September 25, 2025, and the House adopted its own version on June 4, 2026; a conference committee was appointed in June 2026. The Senate version would bar selling the precise geolocation data of anyone in Massachusetts. Neither version has a provision specific to private investigators. Bills not enacted before the new General Court convenes in January 2027 lapse.
Checked and unchanged
- No 2023–2026 session law amended G.L. c.147, ss.22 to 30.
- The stalking statute, c.265, s.43, was not amended.
Last updated October 18, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & InvestigationCite as: United States Council for Law & Investigation, “Massachusetts private detective licensing: Licensing Law Tracker,” uscli.org/licensing-tracker/massachusetts (last updated October 18, 2026). Text licensed CC BY 4.0.