Industry SecuritySelf-assessment

Place-of-Worship Security Planning Checklist

A place-of-worship security checklist helps faith leaders assess governance, risks, parking, entrances, welcoming and visitor practices, childcare, restricted areas, communication, emergency plans, volunteers, training and improvement. CISA describes self-assessment as a first step, not an in-depth professional assessment, and recommends tailoring security to a community's unique needs while respecting its open and welcoming purpose. Complete this checklist with clergy or faith leadership, facilities, safety, childcare, accessibility and security representatives. Do not publish access details, camera limitations, response tactics or personal information. The checklist does not authorize armed response, searches, force or detention. Call 911 for an immediate threat, fire or medical emergency.

20 checks5 sectionsSources checked July 19, 2026
Why it matters

Use a system view, not a single-control view

Faith communities often combine regular worship, schools or childcare, counseling, food programs, events and public access. Security that ignores the mission or the people using the facility may create new barriers without addressing the most important risks.

A leadership-owned assessment turns concerns into prioritized, fundable actions and clarifies what trained staff, volunteers, private security and public-safety partners should each do.

Before you begin

How to use this checklist

  1. Create a small review team representing leadership, facilities, ushers or hospitality, childcare, accessibility, communications and security.
  2. Review the property during typical worship, classes and special events, not only when empty.
  3. Use evidence from incidents, drills, maintenance, community feedback and safe observation; keep detailed floor plans and vulnerabilities restricted.
  4. Prioritize life safety and simple operational fixes before purchasing equipment, then assign each action to an owner and date.
  5. Coordinate with local police, fire and emergency management and revisit the plan after events, renovations, incidents or leadership changes.
Interactive checklist

Answer each question from current evidence

Use Not applicable only when the item genuinely does not apply, and follow the site’s approved escalation process for any urgent condition.

Section 1 of 5

Leadership, mission and risk review

Security should be accountable, community-informed and connected to the faith community's mission.

01A named leader and cross-functional team own security and emergency preparedness. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Define authority, meeting cadence, budget input and how clergy, staff, volunteers and congregants raise concerns.

02The team has assessed credible local hazards, past incidents, community activities and the needs of people using the facility.

Evidence to look for: Consider all hazards and actual operations without targeting people based on religion, race, disability, dress or other protected traits.

03Security goals preserve a welcoming environment, accessibility, religious practice and emergency egress.

Evidence to look for: Ask affected community members how proposed measures change access, dignity and participation.

04Written roles distinguish staff, volunteer, private-security and law-enforcement responsibilities. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Do not assign tactical, search, force, detention or medical duties through a general public checklist.

Section 2 of 5

Perimeter, parking and approach

The outer layer should support visibility, orderly arrival and emergency access.

05Property boundaries, vehicle approaches and pedestrian paths are understandable to visitors and responders.

Evidence to look for: Use suitable signs, addresses and route cues while keeping sensitive staging and access details restricted.

06Parking and exterior walkways have usable lighting and maintained sightlines during actual service and event hours. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Observe after dark for outages, glare and obstructions; qualified professionals should determine technical specifications.

07Fire lanes, accessible routes and emergency vehicle access remain unobstructed during peak attendance. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Review when parking demand is highest and coordinate traffic volunteers under an approved plan.

08Landscaping, storage and temporary event features do not unnecessarily conceal entrances or block observation.

Evidence to look for: Use a CPTED-informed review and preserve shade, accessibility and community aesthetics where possible.

Section 3 of 5

Entrances, welcoming and protected areas

Access measures should be consistent, respectful and appropriate to the activity taking place.

09The facility has a clear primary welcome point and a process for managing secondary doors during occupied periods. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Do not block required exits; keep exact lock and alarm arrangements in restricted procedures.

10Greeters, ushers and security personnel know how to welcome, assist and report concerning behavior without profiling. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Training should focus on observable behavior, context, respectful communication and the proper reporting channel.

11Childcare, school, counseling, office, finance and utility areas have access rules appropriate to their functions. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Leadership should define check-in, authorized pickup, privacy, records and escort rules with relevant specialists.

12Keys, badges, door codes and master credentials have controlled issuance, return and lost-access procedures. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Keep identifiers and storage locations out of the public checklist and remove access promptly when roles change.

Section 4 of 5

Communication and emergency readiness

People need simple, tested ways to summon help and follow leadership direction.

13Staff, volunteers and security can promptly contact leadership and 911 using primary and backup methods. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Test radios, phones, intercoms or alerting tools through approved procedures without false dispatch.

14The emergency plan addresses credible hazards, evacuation, shelter, accountability, reunification and assistance for people with disabilities. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Coordinate with police, fire and emergency management and keep tactical annexes restricted.

15Emergency messages are understandable, accessible and available to the languages and communication needs of the community.

Evidence to look for: Plan visual, audible and other accessible methods rather than relying on a single channel.

16Trained personnel know how to report unattended or suspicious items without touching or moving them. Priority review item

Evidence to look for: Use CISA-informed observation and the emergency plan; do not ask volunteers to inspect a suspected device.

Section 5 of 5

Training, exercises and improvement

Preparedness becomes reliable through role-based practice, documentation and correction.

17Staff, volunteers and security receive role-specific orientation and periodic refresher training.

Evidence to look for: Cover reporting, emergency communication, accessibility, childcare responsibilities and the limits of each role.

18Drills or tabletop exercises are planned with leadership and emergency partners and are appropriate for participants.

Evidence to look for: Avoid surprise simulations that could cause panic and account for age, trauma, disability and worship activities.

19Incidents, near misses, drills and maintenance findings produce tracked corrective actions.

Evidence to look for: Record owner, priority, due date, interim measure and verification without publishing vulnerabilities.

20The security plan and contact lists have a scheduled review and update cycle.

Evidence to look for: Also review after leadership, facility, program, threat or incident changes.

Current result

Complete the checklist to see a summary

Results are informational and do not certify compliance or eliminate risk.

Common mistakes

What can weaken the review

  • Buying cameras or hardware before leadership defines risks, roles and response procedures.
  • Using appearance, religion, race, disability, dress or unfamiliarity as evidence that a person is threatening.
  • Blocking exits or reducing accessibility in the name of security.
  • Publishing door, key, camera, patrol or emergency-response details.
  • Relying on one highly motivated volunteer without governance, backups or documented training.
Practical questions

Frequently asked questions

Where should a place of worship begin with security planning?

Begin with accountable leadership and a representative team, then complete a facility and operations risk review. CISA describes its self-assessment as a first step that can identify options and support later professional assessment.

How can security remain welcoming?

Use clear wayfinding, trained greeters, consistent access rules, accessibility input and behavior-based reporting. Test proposed controls with the people who use the facility so protection does not unnecessarily undermine worship or belonging.

Should volunteers be armed?

This checklist does not recommend or authorize armed roles. Any armed-security decision requires careful legal, insurance, training, policy, law-enforcement and governing-leadership review specific to the organization and jurisdiction.

What security information should stay private?

Keep detailed floor plans, camera limitations, lock and alarm details, response tactics, patrol patterns, childcare records and personal information in restricted systems shared only with authorized partners.

How often should the plan be reviewed?

Set a regular leadership review and update it after major events, incidents, drills, renovations, program changes or turnover in key roles. Verify contacts and outstanding corrective actions each time.

Sources and evidence baseline

These references support the general planning baseline. Site-specific decisions still require the responsible organization and appropriate qualified professionals.

  1. Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment and User GuideCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

    Foundational self-assessment, vulnerability review, prioritization and the limits of a preliminary assessment.

  2. Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based CommunitiesCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

    Leadership, risk assessment, layered measures, parking, access, lighting and emergency planning.

  3. Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security GuideCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

    Layered perimeter planning, childcare considerations and preserving an open and welcoming environment.

  4. Emergency PlansReady.gov

    Emergency communication, response, continuity and recovery planning.

Source links checked: July 19, 2026

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