Which local-service ads Google restricts
Direct answerGoogle does not treat every local trade the same. The local services page, under other restricted businesses, requires advanced verification for locksmiths and garage-door repair in the United States, and for locksmiths in Canada. It says locksmith ads are not able to run in Spain, Germany, Sweden, or Belgium. In the Netherlands, both plumber ads and locksmith ads are not able to run. A warning is issued at least 7 days before suspension.
Country rules on the page
| Where the ad is targeted | What Google publishes |
|---|---|
| United States | Locksmith services and garage door repair are restricted. Apply for advanced verification before the ads can run. |
| Canada | Locksmith services are restricted. Apply for advanced verification. |
| Spain | Locksmith ads are not able to run. |
| The Netherlands | Plumber ads are not able to run. Locksmith ads are not able to run. |
| Germany, Sweden, and Belgium | Locksmith ads are not able to run. |
| Other countries | Local services are able to run outside the restricted areas, even if the business has not completed verification. |
Interpretation: the page does not publish a worldwide ban on plumbers, electricians, or HVAC. It names the service and the country. A US garage-door company that has not applied is in the restricted row. A US electrician is not named there. Recheck the live page before a campaign, because the country list is the kind of rule Google revises.
The application itself is “advanced verification” on that policy page. This article does not reprint a form address. Use the link in the live local-services article.
Nearby labels that are not this restriction
A locksmith who threatens to leave unless the customer pays more than the quoted price is Google’s dishonest-pricing example. Showing the call-out fee does not make an unverified US locksmith eligible, and verification does not make a hidden on-site price acceptable.
A lead-gen site that sends callers to a random locksmith is closer to call forwarding. Computer repair sold as support for another company’s product is third-party tech support, which is not allowed even when the price is disclosed.
If the ad is disapproved
- Read the country row. If the page says the ads are not able to run, stop targeting that country. Verification does not override that sentence.
- If the row says advanced verification, apply from the live policy page, then edit and save the ad. Re-review typically takes 24–48 hours.
- Appeal only if the business is not the named service, or the target location is outside the restricted list, and you believe the label is wrong.
Sources
Reviewed October 7, 2026. Country restrictions change. This is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does a US plumber need this verification?
The United States section names locksmith services and garage door repair, not plumbers. A service the page does not name for that country is not in this restriction. Dishonest pricing and other policies can still disapprove the ad.
Can a verified US locksmith advertise in Spain?
No. Google says locksmith ads are not able to run in Spain, and the same for Germany, Sweden, and Belgium. The Netherlands also blocks plumber ads. Verification for the United States does not override a country where the page says ads are not able to run.
Is third-party computer repair this policy?
No. Third-party consumer technical support is a separate ban. A locksmith who quotes one price and then demands more on site is a dishonest-pricing example, which is also separate from whether the category is allowed to run.
Check the trade and the country before launch
LaunchGuarding can scan a local-service ad for a pricing or support claim before submission. It does not complete Google’s advanced verification.