If you open a second BSIS location less than 1 mile from the first, do you need a branch office license for it?

• A. Yes, mileage doesn't matter
• B. No, distance matters
• C. Only if there are more than two employees
• D. Only if the second location shares staff

Answer: (A)

In California BSIS licensing, each physical location where you operate or store equipment and where staff works is treated as its own branch. The need for a branch office license isn’t based on how far apart the locations are; it’s about having a separate site for operations. So opening a second BSIS location, even if it’s less than a mile from the first, creates another site that must be licensed as a branch.

This ensures proper supervision, recordkeeping, and regulatory oversight at each site. If you run two locations, both need their own branch licenses and must be listed with BSIS.