For property managers, HOA boards and gated communities
Citiguard provides apartment complex security and HOA security services across California: apartment security guards, gate officers and marked vehicle patrols for apartment communities, homeowners associations and gated neighborhoods. Licensed Private Patrol Operator #121572, with officers who know the difference between keeping a community safe and policing the people who live in it.
Apartment complex security, HOA security and portfolio coverage for management companies are three different jobs. An apartment leasing office, a volunteer board and a management company carry different responsibilities, and the officer's duties are written to match.
Garden-style, mid-rise or mixed-use: residents, guests, vendors and deliveries move through the same entrances all day. The officer keeps access orderly, checks the amenities and parking after hours, and gives the leasing office a record of what happened overnight.
Usual starting point
A staffed post during peak hours plus marked vehicle patrols overnight; some properties run a 24-hour post.
Boards answer to homeowners, not tenants. Gate officers and patrols enforce the association's own rules — guest lists, parking, amenity hours — and report to the board or its manager, not to individual residents.
Usual starting point
Gate officer during busy hours with set or randomized patrol visits; many associations start with patrol only.
Managers want one contract, one point of contact and the same report format at every property. Citiguard gives the portfolio a single point of contact, writes post orders in the same format for every property and routes every report through CitiTrac.
Usual starting point
A mix of posts and patrol routes across the portfolio, priced per property from the same hourly and per-visit rates, with one point of contact.
Six places account for most of what a community asks a security officer to do. The numbered markers match the list.
Guest verification, vendor and delivery check-in, gate-arm faults reported the same night. The post can be staffed or covered by patrol visits.
A visible officer at the office or lobby during business hours and events; after hours, lock-up checks and walkthroughs.
Permit checks, courtesy notices, blocked fire lanes and abandoned vehicles logged with photos; towing only under the community's written policy.
Opening and closing checks on the posted schedule, occupancy after hours, and damage or hazards reported to management.
Access checks and door-propped reports; officers observe and report — package handling is a separate, written duty if you want it.
Fence lines, lighting, trash enclosures and stairwells on a route with time-stamped checkpoints.
Pick by what has to happen, not by headcount. Apartment complex security and HOA security use the same three building blocks; a security consultant will tell you which mix fits the property.
An officer at the gate, lobby or leasing office for the whole shift — armed or unarmed.
A uniformed officer in a marked Citiguard vehicle visits at set times, randomized times, or both — your choice.
A daytime or evening post with overnight patrol visits, under one set of post orders.
Typical 2026 ranges from the Citiguard cost guide, so a board or owner can budget before asking for a quote. Every property is priced individually; the figures below are typical California ranges, not a rate card.
The usual choice for gates, lobbies, amenity lock-ups and residential patrol posts.
BSIS firearms-permit holders, used where there is a documented history of violent incidents or a specific threat.
Priced per visit, not per hour — the reason patrols fit small HOAs and shared routes.
| Coverage | Hours or visits | Typical monthly range |
|---|---|---|
| Evening post, 8 hours a night | 240 hours | about $6,000–$9,600 |
| Overnight post, 6 p.m.–6 a.m. | 360 hours | about $9,000–$14,400 |
| Patrol route, 2 visits a night | 60 visits | about $1,500–$3,600 |
| Patrol route, 1 visit a night | 30 visits | about $750–$1,800 |
Figures come from Citiguard's 2026 security guard cost guide and are typical ranges, not a quote. Read the full cost guide
Get a written quoteWhat an evening post with an overnight patrol route looks like in practice. Times are an example; yours are set in the post orders.
Officer reads the post orders and the previous night's notes; supervisor confirms contacts for the evening.
Guest check-in at the gate, vendor sign-out, leasing office locked and alarm set with staff.
Pool, gym and clubhouse checked and locked on the posted schedule; occupants asked to leave politely.
Permit check and fire-lane sweep; courtesy notices under the community's policy, photos logged.
Checkpoints along fence lines, stairwells and trash enclosures; lighting faults and open gates reported.
The CitiTrac daily activity report, with time-stamped photos, goes to the contacts named in the post orders when the shift ends.
Supervisors visit each post at least twice per 8-hour shift. A security consultant is reachable 24/7 for post-order changes or incidents.
Boards and owners want a record they can act on and keep. Every report distinguishes what was observed, what the officer did and what is still open for management.
The same published standard at every post in California.
Every officer holds a California BSIS Guard Card. Screening includes a BCI background check, civil and criminal court search, drug testing (including random), DMV record, references, prior employment and workers' compensation history.
Field supervisors with 15+ years of experience visit each post at least twice per 8-hour shift.
Daily activity reports, incident reports and patrol logs with time-stamped photos — included with every assignment.
Post-order changes, schedule changes or incidents: a security consultant answers around the clock.
Start with a 30-day trial. Citiguard does not charge overtime except on major holidays.
California Private Patrol Operator #121572, with liability and workers' compensation coverage above the state-required minimums.
Property managers, building owners and HOA boards describe the difference an officer who shows up makes. Quoted as published; excerpts marked with …
We hired Citiguard for our building. The officers handle everything from access control to guest screening, and they do it with professionalism and a calm presence that keeps tenants reassured. We no longer get calls in the middle of the night.
We had the pleasure of using Citiguard for our big 4th of July event here at our HOA Community in Laguna Beach. We requested 13 unarmed security professionals to help us maintain order in our community. … Between Citiguard and the assistance of OCSD we kept our Beach HOA community safe and secure for the entire duration of our event.
Our apartment complex in downtown Los Angeles just recently hired them and they are great city guard has great service. The guards are very well trained. They are not creepy like our previous company.
We've used Citiguard for a variety of security needs over the years, and they've honestly been the best security company we've worked with. From ongoing site coverage to special events and short-notice requests, they've always been reliable, professional, and easy to coordinate with. What really sets Citiguard apart is how safe and calm their presence feels.
Some of the California organizations we’ve worked with.
Three rules that shape what a security officer may and may not do at a residential community. Each links to the official source.
Under California's Davis-Stirling Act, an HOA board "shall not take action on any item of business outside of a board meeting" (Civ. Code §4910), and operating rules are valid only if they are in writing, within the board's authority, consistent with the governing documents and reasonable (§4350). In practice: the rules an officer enforces should be adopted rules, and post-order changes should come from the board or its manager.
Cal. Civ. Code §4910 (leginfo) · Civ. Code §4350The statute names common-interest-development associations among the parties who may authorize a tow. Towing needs posted signs at every entrance (17 by 22 inches, 1-inch letters, with each tow company's phone number and the local law enforcement number) or a 96-hour notice on the vehicle; written authorization from an owner, agent or employee who is present at removal and records the time the vehicle was first observed; and notice to local law enforcement within one hour of the tow. Under a general authorization, the statute generally limits towing to fire lanes, parking within 15 feet of a hydrant and blocked entrances or exits — read the statute and check with your counsel for your property. A Citiguard officer can issue notices, keep the log and be present as your agent — under your written policy.
Cal. Veh. Code §22658 (leginfo)Guards working for a licensed security company must hold a BSIS Guard Card — DOJ/FBI background check and Power to Arrest training before registration, 32 hours of skills training within the first six months, 8 hours a year after that — and carry it on duty. Armed officers also need a BSIS firearms permit. The company must hold a Private Patrol Operator license. Verify any provider on the BSIS website — Citiguard is PPO #121572.
Verify a license on bsis.ca.govExpand a topic for the specifics.
Citiguard has provided security guard services in California since 2013 and holds Private Patrol Operator license #121572. Every residential assignment gets the same model: screened, trained and BSIS-licensed officers; field supervisors who visit each post at least twice per 8-hour shift; CitiTrac reports with time-stamped photos at no extra cost; a security consultant on call 24/7; a 30-day trial; and no overtime charges except on major holidays. Citiguard was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies in 2025 and 2026.
Access control at gates and lobbies; visitor, vendor and delivery check-in; marked vehicle and foot patrols; lock-up of pool, fitness center, laundry and clubhouse on the posted schedule; parking enforcement and courtesy notices under your policy; alarm response; graffiti, trash and vandalism reporting; lights-out reports; daily activity reports and incident reports with time-stamped photos; golf-cart patrols on large properties; most officers also hold CPR and first aid certification. Every item is written into post orders for your property — nothing is assumed.
Access control — screening visitors, vendors and deliveries at a gate or lobby so one entry point does not expose hundreds of units. Parking areas — permit checks, fire-lane sweeps and a visible presence against vehicle break-ins, vandalism and catalytic converter theft. Package and mail rooms — a post or patrol checkpoint near delivery areas during the hours packages pile up. Disturbances — noise complaints and neighbor conflicts handled by an officer who documents, notifies and calls law enforcement when the situation needs it. Perimeter — fence lines, lighting, gates and common areas checked on a route, with faults reported the same shift. Documentation — a daily activity report and incident reports with time-stamped photos that management can refer back to and share with its insurer or counsel.
Unarmed officers suit most residential assignments: the work is access control, patrols and reporting, and an unarmed presence keeps the tone neighborly. Armed officers (BSIS firearms permit holders) are used where there is a documented history of violent incidents, cash handling on site or a specific threat assessment. A security consultant will recommend one or the other in the proposal, with the reasons.
Round-the-clock coverage means three shifts and several officers. Many apartment communities and HOAs start with evening and overnight hours — roughly 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. — when leasing staff have gone home, amenities need to be closed and foot traffic drops. A property that only needs amenity lock-ups and after-hours checks can cover the same hours with marked vehicle patrol visits instead of a staffed post. The proposal shows the hours, the model and the monthly figure side by side so the board can compare.
At an apartment community the owner or management company contracts the service and the cost is an operating expense. At an HOA or condominium association the board contracts it on the association's behalf and pays from dues or a special assessment, under rules the board has adopted. The duties differ too: a leasing office cares about tours, deliveries and tenant turnover; a board cares about guest lists, parking, amenity hours and consistent enforcement that treats every owner the same.
Boards decide; officers carry out. A Citiguard consultant can attend a board meeting so the post orders reflect the rules the board has adopted, and Citiguard takes instructions from the board's designated contact or manager rather than from individual residents. Reports go to the board and manager, which keeps enforcement consistent and keeps the association's records complete.
Short-term and seasonal coverage — a vacant building, a holiday weekend, a run of break-ins — is common. Send the address, hours and concern and a consultant replies with a proposal; start dates depend on officer availability for your area, and the 30-day trial applies to new assignments.
How are officers supervised? Field supervisors visit each post at least twice per 8-hour shift, and patrol visits carry time-stamped photos. Can we see a sample report? Yes — the CitiTrac example on this page shows the fields, and a consultant can show you a sample report. What happens when an officer needs backup? A security consultant is reachable 24/7 and supervisors are in the field. What are the terms? A 30-day trial on new assignments, no overtime charges except on major holidays, and a written proposal before anything starts. Do your officers have residential experience? Read the reviews above from an apartment complex, a residential building and an HOA community. Is the license current? Citiguard is Private Patrol Operator #121572 — verify it on the BSIS website.
Straight answers to what boards and property managers ask before they sign — including the questions the law does and does not settle.
There is no general California statute that requires a residential community to hire security guards; local conditions, court orders or your insurer may say otherwise. Owners and associations usually hire guards because of what is happening on the property — break-ins, package theft, trespassing in amenities, parking disputes. Whether your property needs one is a judgment call a security consultant can help you make after a site visit; it is not a state mandate.
Controls access at the gate or lobby, checks in visitors, vendors and deliveries, locks the pool, gym and laundry on schedule, patrols parking areas and walkways, enforces the community's parking rules where authorized, responds to alarms and complaints, and files a daily activity report with time-stamped photos. The exact duties are written into post orders for your property.
If someone must be at a gate or lobby during set hours, you need a staffed post. If the need is amenity lock-ups, after-hours checks and visible deterrence across a large community, marked vehicle patrols at set or randomized times usually fit — and cost less, because they are priced per visit rather than per hour. Many communities combine a daytime post with overnight patrols.
Officers enforce the rules the board has adopted in writing — guest lists, parking, amenity hours, noise — by observing, notifying residents, documenting and reporting to the board or manager. They do not make policy, decide disputes or act on instructions from individual homeowners. Under the Davis-Stirling Act, the board acts through its meetings and written rules, so that is where the post orders come from.
Only under your written policy and California Vehicle Code §22658: posted signs or a 96-hour notice, written authorization with the required details, an authorized person present at removal, and notice to local law enforcement within an hour. A Citiguard officer can issue notices, keep the time-first-observed log and be present as your agent. Under a general authorization the statute generally limits towing to fire lanes, parking within 15 feet of a hydrant and blocked entrances or exits; check the statute and your counsel for your property.
An officer can tell a trespasser to leave on the owner's or association's behalf, document the encounter with photos and a report, and call local law enforcement when the person refuses or the situation escalates. Security officers are not police: every California guard completes the BSIS Power to Arrest course, which covers exactly when a private person may detain someone and the limits on it, and Citiguard's post orders spell out what officers do on your property. The result boards want — trespassers gone and a record of it — comes from presence and documentation, not force.
Unarmed officers suit most residential assignments. Armed officers hold a BSIS firearms permit and are used where there is a documented history of violent incidents, on-site cash handling or a specific threat. The proposal states which is recommended and why.
Typical 2026 ranges from the Citiguard cost guide: unarmed officers $25–$40 per hour, armed officers $40–$100+ per hour, marked vehicle patrols $25–$60 per visit. An evening post of eight hours a night runs about $6,000–$9,600 a month at unarmed rates; a patrol route with two visits a night about $1,500–$3,600. The quote depends on officer type, hours per week, number of posts and whether you need a staffed post, patrol visits or both. Citiguard quotes each property individually, does not charge overtime except on major holidays, and includes CitiTrac reporting and supervision.
A daily activity report through CitiTrac after every shift, incident reports with time-stamped photos and a record of who was notified, patrol visit logs with checkpoint times, and maintenance items such as lights out, gate faults or graffiti. Reports go to the contacts you name — property manager, board president or management company.
It depends on entrances, grounds and hours, not unit count alone. A community with one gate and compact grounds usually starts with one officer per shift. A larger community with several buildings, a big parking area and amenities often pairs a gate or lobby officer with a patrol route, so one person is not expected to watch everything at once. A consultant sizes it after seeing the property, and the 30-day trial lets you adjust.
Yes. Patrol visits are priced per visit, so a small community can buy overnight checks a few nights a week or a route shared with neighboring properties. Describe the layout, access points and concern rather than the unit count; a consultant will size the coverage to the need.
Yes. Citiguard is a licensed California Private Patrol Operator (PPO #121572) and carries liability and workers' compensation coverage above the state-required minimums. Every officer holds a BSIS Guard Card; armed officers also hold a BSIS firearms permit. Verify the license on the BSIS website.
Yes — across California, including Orange County, the Inland Empire, San Diego, Ventura, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento and the Bay Area, with 24/7 dispatch from the Woodland Hills headquarters and branch offices. Find your county in the service-area directory
Get a proposal for your community
Send the property address, the number of buildings and entrances, the hours you need covered and your main concern. A security consultant reviews it with you — by phone or on site — and replies with a written proposal.
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