Written by Paul Thandi, Operations Manager, On Guard Security Ltd. — 10+ years in BC security · Updated September 2026
"How many guards do we need?" is usually the first question an organiser asks us, and the honest answer is that it depends. A seated corporate dinner for 200 and an all-ages outdoor festival for 200 are very different jobs. Book too few guards and the entrance backs up, the bar gets crowded and nobody is watching the parking lot. Book too many and you have spent budget that could have gone elsewhere. This guide explains the factors that actually set event security numbers, works through some illustrative examples, and covers venue and insurer requirements, what guards do on the night and when to book.
Key takeaways
There is no universal "one guard per X guests" rule in BC. Guard numbers come from a risk assessment of the specific event.
Alcohol, the number of entry points, whether the event is ticketed or public, and the layout of the venue matter as much as guest count.
Your venue agreement, event permits and insurer can set minimum security requirements, so check them first.
Event security is billed hourly per guard, so shift lengths and set-up and tear-down time drive cost as much as headcount.
Guards supplied by a security company in BC must hold a valid security worker licence, and the company must be licensed too.
Event security is the planning and staffing that keeps guests, staff, performers and property safe during an event. It covers who gets in, how crowds move, how alcohol-related problems are handled, how emergencies are managed and how the venue is left afterwards. It is delivered by licensed guards working to a plan agreed with the organiser and the venue.
Good event security is mostly invisible. Guests notice a smooth entrance, a calm bar area and a clear exit at the end of the night. They rarely notice the guard who quietly moved a blocked fire exit, spotted an intoxicated guest before they drove, or kept an uninvited group from walking in through the kitchen door.
No. You will see ratios quoted online, but we are not aware of any BC law or regulation that sets a universal number of guards per guest for private events. Some venues, permit conditions and insurers set their own minimums for a particular event, and when they do, those are the numbers you must meet. Otherwise, the right number comes from looking at the event itself.
Key insight: a ratio treats every guest as the same risk. In practice, two entrances, an open bar and an outdoor parking lot can each need their own guard regardless of whether 150 or 250 people turn up.
When we plan event security, we build the headcount from the positions the event needs, then check it against the crowd. These are the factors that move the number most:
Guest count and peak arrival. A large crowd arriving in a 30-minute window needs more staff at the door than the same crowd arriving over three hours.
Alcohol. Serving alcohol usually means a guard near the bar, more attention to ID checks where age matters, and someone watching departures and the parking lot at the end of the night.
Entry and exit points. Every door that guests can use, and every door that uninvited people could use, is a potential post.
Ticketed, invite-only or public. Invite-only events with a guest list are generally lower risk than open public events where anyone can walk in.
Venue type and layout. Indoor halls with one entrance are easier to control than outdoor sites, multi-room venues or properties with open perimeters.
Audience and profile. All-ages events, high-profile guests, VIPs, performers or valuable items on display change what the guards need to do.
Duration and extra areas. Long events need break relief, and parking lots, coat checks, gift tables, stages and back-of-house areas each add responsibility.
The table below shows how these factors typically translate into staffing. These are illustrative starting points to help you budget, not rules or legal minimums. Your actual number should come from a site visit and any venue, permit or insurer requirement.
Event (illustrative)
Main risk factors
Typical positions
Illustrative range
Seated corporate dinner, about 150 guests, one entrance, hosted bar
Alcohol, departures
Entrance, floater covering bar and parking
2 guards
Wedding reception, about 250 guests, open bar, gifts table
Alcohol, gifts and cash, uninvited guests
Entrance, floater, parking lot at close
2 to 3 guards
Community festival, open to public, outdoor, several access points
Unknown crowd size, open perimeter, families
Each access point, roaming patrols, stage or main area, supervisor
Planned post by post, often 6 or more
Ticketed concert, about 500 guests, licensed bar
Alcohol, crowd density near stage, ticket checks
Entry and ticket check, bar, front of stage, exits, supervisor
Planned post by post, often 8 or more
Private party at a residence, about 60 guests
Uninvited guests, parking, neighbours
Entrance and street-side presence
1 to 2 guards
For larger or public events, we recommend a named supervisor who holds the radio, liaises with the organiser and the venue, and makes the call on escalations. That role is separate from the guards on fixed posts.
Before you decide on a number, check three documents:
Your venue agreement. Many venues specify whether security is required, how many guards, and whether they must come from a licensed company.
Your event and liquor permit conditions. If you are applying for a permit, read the conditions attached to it; some events have security or crowd management requirements written in.
Your event insurance policy. Insurers sometimes make coverage conditional on professional security for larger or licensed events.
Whatever the documents say, make sure the guards you hire are licensed. Under BC's Security Services Act, security guard service includes guarding property and individuals and providing door security at liquor-licensed establishments, and both the individual guard and the business supplying them must be licensed. You can check a licence with the province's licence status verification tool.
Entrance control — checking tickets, wristbands or the guest list, and ID where age limits apply.
Crowd monitoring — watching for overcrowding, blocked exits, conflict and guests who need help.
Alcohol-related issues — working with bar staff to spot over-intoxication early and handle it calmly.
Protecting property — gifts, cash boxes, equipment, performers' gear and the venue itself.
Parking and departures — keeping the lot orderly and watching for people who shouldn't drive.
Emergency response — calling 911, guiding guests out and helping first responders find the scene.
Reporting — recording anything notable so the organiser and venue have a clear account afterwards.
Event guards are not police and don't have police powers. Their strongest tools are observation, early and calm intervention, clear communication and knowing when to call for help. Guards we assign are trained through the JIBC Basic Security Training program and briefed on the specific event before the doors open.
Key insight: the pre-event briefing is where good event security is won. Guards who know the guest list, the VIPs, the bar close time and the emergency exits make better decisions than a larger team that arrives cold.
Event security is billed hourly per guard. That means cost depends on more than guest count:
Number of guards and whether a supervisor is needed.
Shift length, including arrival before doors open and time after close for clear-out and tear-down.
Minimum shift lengths, which most providers apply to short bookings.
Timing, since late nights, weekends and statutory holidays can affect rates.
Special requirements such as formal dress, specific language skills or coordination with a venue's in-house team.
A tight plan often costs less than a bigger team on a loose one. For more on how rates are built across services, see our security guard cost guide for BC.
Book as early as you can, especially for summer weekends, the holiday party season and long weekends, when demand for event security across the Lower Mainland is highest. When you request a quote, send:
Date, start and finish times, and set-up and tear-down times.
Venue address and a floor plan or site map if you have one.
Expected guest count and whether the event is ticketed, invite-only or public.
Whether alcohol will be served, and until what time.
Any venue, permit or insurer security requirements.
Anything specific: VIPs, gifts or cash, known family tensions, performers or equipment.
With that information, a provider can recommend a number based on positions rather than guesswork, and explain the reasoning so you can adjust it.
On Guard Security Ltd. has provided event security from our Surrey office for more than 10 years, covering corporate events, weddings, private parties and community events in Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Langley, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. Our guards are licensed and JIBC-trained, complete a week of one-on-one training with a senior officer, and are backed by 24/7 support. We are WorkSafeBC compliant and fully insured. For events that include overnight parking or equipment storage, we can add parking lot security before and after the event. See our private event security service, call 778-990-5070, or request an event security quote.
Event security is the planning and staffing that keeps guests, staff, performers and property safe during an event. It covers entrance control, crowd monitoring, alcohol-related issues, protecting property, parking and departures, emergency response and reporting, delivered by licensed guards working to a plan agreed with the organiser and venue.
How many security guards do you need for an event?
There is no universal guards-per-guest rule in BC. The number comes from the positions the event needs: each entrance, the bar, the parking lot, any stage or valuables, plus a supervisor for larger events. Guest count, alcohol, venue layout and whether the event is public all move the number, and venue, permit or insurer requirements set the minimum.
How much security is needed for an event?
Enough to cover every position that needs a person at the busiest point of the event, with relief for breaks on long shifts. A small invite-only gathering may need one or two guards; a public or ticketed event with alcohol and several entrances is planned post by post and usually needs a supervisor.
What does an event security guard do?
An event security guard controls entry, checks tickets or guest lists, monitors the crowd, helps bar staff manage intoxication, protects gifts and equipment, keeps parking and departures orderly, responds to emergencies by calling 911 and guiding guests, and reports incidents. Event guards are not police and do not have police powers.
How much does a security guard cost for a day?
Event guards are billed hourly per guard, so a day's cost depends on how many hours the guard works, including set-up and clear-out, the time of day and week, any minimum shift length and special requirements. We quote on the event details rather than a flat day rate.
Who pays for security at a concert?
It depends on the agreement between the organiser or promoter and the venue. Often the organiser pays for event security, sometimes through the venue's own security arrangements. Check your venue contract to see who is responsible for arranging and paying for security before you book.
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