How to Hire a Private Detective in Arizona

Arizona licensing at a glance

Arizona licenses private detectives and private investigation agencies through the Department of Public Safety (A.R.S. §§ 32-2401 to -2462). Acting as a private detective without a license is a misdemeanor.

Step by step: hiring in Arizona

1. Define your question. What do you need to know, and what decision depends on it?
2. Verify licensing. Look the detective up on the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Security Guard & Private Investigator Licensing Unit website rather than relying on a license number shown in an ad. Confirm the license is active and check the agency license as well as the individual's where both exist.
3. Agree on scope and cost in writing. Know what will be done, for how long, and what you'll receive.
4. Share what you know. Names, addresses, photos, vehicles and schedules save billable hours.
5. Insist on lawful methods. Arizona generally allows a participant to record a conversation (one-party consent). Detectives shouldn't hack accounts, pretext for records, trespass or track phones.

What affects the cost of an investigation in Arizona

Arizona spans 15 counties. Surveillance in a dense area like Phoenix may call for two detectives to keep a subject in view, while work in rural counties can involve more travel time. Records research that requires courthouse visits in several counties takes longer than searches available online.

Most surveillance is billed hourly plus expenses such as mileage; defined research tasks are often flat-fee. Our cost guide explains pricing in detail.

Questions to ask a Arizona detective

• Are you licensed for work in Arizona, and who will actually do the work?
• How often do you handle matters like mine in Arizona?
• How do you handle recording and tracking under Arizona law?
• Which county courts or records will you need, and how long will that take?
• What will the report include, and could you testify if needed?

More questions are in our list of 15 questions to ask before hiring.

Where we coordinate work in Arizona

Mooney & Boland coordinates investigations throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler and Scottsdale. See private detective services in Arizona for coverage and services.

Local pages for Arizona communities:

Common questions

Sources

• Arizona Department of Public Safety, Security Guard & Private Investigator Licensing Unit (official regulator)
• Justia: Recording Phone Calls and Conversations, 50-State Survey

Reviewed November 2026.