How to Get a Sheriff’s Card: Eligibility, Fees, and Renewal

To get a sheriff’s card in Nevada, get hired first, have your employer sign the work card application, then apply in person at the county records office with two forms of ID, submit fingerprints, and pay the fee. In Clark County (Las Vegas), that fee totals $104 and the card is good for five years.¹

The name is misleading. A sheriff’s card has nothing to do with working in law enforcement. It’s a county work permit for jobs in regulated industries, and LVMPD confirms that “sheriff’s card” and “work card” mean the same thing.² Casino dealers and cage workers, bartenders and liquor store employees, locksmiths, pawnbrokers, mobile food vendors, peddlers, and certain adult entertainment workers are among the positions that commonly need one in Clark County. Washoe County issues permits for a narrower set: liquor-related jobs, locksmiths, and peddlers or solicitors.³ If you’re not sure whether your position requires one, ask your employer before your first day.

Start With a Job Offer

You cannot walk in and apply on your own. LVMPD’s instructions are explicit: “You must first obtain employment. Your prospective employer will provide you with a work card application.”² The employer signs the application before you submit it. Fill out both sides completely in black ink. Incomplete forms or a missing employer signature will get you turned away at the window.

What to Bring

Clark County requires two valid forms of ID, with at least one photo ID establishing your identity. Any two of these will work:

State-issued driver’s license or ID card
U.S. passport
Military ID
Naturalization certificate
Certified birth certificate
Social Security card
INS work authorization

⁴

Washoe County requires only one form of ID: a valid driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or current U.S. passport. Bring a printed copy of your completed application and the signed employer authorization form to your appointment.³

Where to Apply

In Clark County, submit your application in person at the LVMPD Records and Fingerprint Bureau, 400 South Martin Luther King Boulevard, Building C, Las Vegas, NV 89106. The office is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Appointments are available and worth scheduling to avoid long waits.⁵

Washoe County handles work permits by appointment only. Complete the application online first, then schedule an appointment through the link provided.³

Fees

Clark County fees effective July 1, 2025 are $65 for the application and $39 for the FBI background check, for a total of $104 for a new card. Renewal costs the same $104 when the FBI check is required.¹ Fees are non-refundable whether or not your application is approved. Payment is typically accepted in cash, by credit or debit card, or by money order. No Nevada law requires an employer to reimburse you, though many casino and hospitality employers cover the cost as part of onboarding.

Fingerprints and the Background Check

Fingerprints are captured electronically at your appointment using LiveScan and submitted to both state and FBI databases.³ At the LVMPD office, results often come back fast enough that your card can be printed during the same visit. If something in the check needs a closer look, a technician evaluates your eligibility under the ordinance covering your occupation, which takes longer, and the office may contact you for additional information.

Who Qualifies

A criminal record isn’t an automatic disqualifier. Eligibility depends on the specific ordinance or statute that governs your occupation, so a conviction that blocks one type of card may not block another.² Felony and gross misdemeanor convictions are the most common barriers. Other grounds for denial include certain theft-related convictions within the past two years and outstanding child support obligations tied to professional licensing requirements.⁶

Juvenile convictions in Nevada from when you were 17 or younger generally don’t need to be disclosed. Adult convictions from any state can count if the offense would qualify as a felony or gross misdemeanor under Nevada law. Falsifying the application is itself disqualifying, even if the underlying record wouldn’t have blocked approval.⁷

How Long the Card Lasts and How to Renew It

Clark County work cards are valid for five years from the date of issuance.⁷ There’s no streamlined renewal. You re-apply from scratch: get a new application from your employer, have it signed, return to the Records and Fingerprint Bureau, pay the fees again, and submit new prints for another background check.² Start at least a few weeks before your card expires. Working in a covered job with an expired card puts both you and your employer at risk.

If You’re Denied

LVMPD states that applicants “may have the right to appeal a denial,” though appeal availability depends on the ordinance covering your position.² If the denial rests on your criminal history, check whether the conviction actually falls within the disqualifying categories for your specific occupation. If you believe the background check returned inaccurate information, federal law gives you the right to dispute errors with the reporting agency before the decision becomes final. When the disqualifying record is accurate, a record seal or pardon may eventually restore eligibility for a future application.

1
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Service Fees
2
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Work Cards – FAQs
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Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Work Permits
4
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Frequently Asked Questions
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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Records and Fingerprint Bureau
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Amlegal. Lyon County Code 5.08.06 – Work Card Required; Denial, Revocation or Suspension; Appeal
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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Work Cards