Lock Rekey in Los Angeles and Ventura County

What is lock rekeying, and how is it different from changing locks?

Most keyed locks work on the same principle. Inside the cylinder is a row of small spring-loaded pins. The right key lifts each pin to exactly the right height, the pins line up at a gap called the shear line, and the cylinder turns. Rekeying means we open the cylinder, replace the pins with ones cut to a different combination, and cut you a new key to match. The lock body, the handle, the deadbolt and the door are untouched. Every key that used to work becomes a piece of metal.

Changing locks is a different job. That means removing the hardware and installing new hardware, which makes sense when the old lock is worn, damaged, or simply not the style you want. If you are weighing the two, our page on changing locks lays out when swapping hardware is the better call. If your locks are in decent shape and the only problem is who holds a key, rekeying is usually the more economical route, because you are paying for a skilled change to the inside of the lock rather than for new hardware.

What situations lead to a rekey call?

People rarely call for a rekey because they are curious about pins. They call because something happened to the keys, or something is about to. The reasons below are the ones we hear most, and each one changes how we approach the visit.

• You just bought a house or condo. You have no idea how many copies of the old keys exist: past owners, agents, contractors, neighbors, a dog walker from three years ago.
• You moved into a rental or a new apartment and want to know that the previous resident's keys no longer work.
• A tenant moved out and the unit needs to be ready for the next one. Landlords and property managers call this tenant turnover rekeying.
• You lost a key, or one was stolen along with a wallet or bag that had your address in it.
• A roommate, ex-partner, former employee, or contractor still has a key and you would rather not rely on their goodwill.
• You want every exterior door on one key instead of a ring of four or five.
• A business changed staff, managers, or tenants and needs to cut off old key holders without replacing every lock.

How is a rekey actually done, step by step?

The work is hands-on and fairly quiet, and a good technician does not rush the details. Here is the sequence we follow on a typical pin tumbler lock such as a front-door knob or deadbolt.

1. Confirm the scope. We ask which doors, what brands if you know them, whether you want one key for all locks, and whether you have a working key. Having a working key makes some locks faster to rekey, but it is not required.
2. Identify each lock. We check the brand, keyway (the shape of the key slot), and whether the cylinder is a standard pin tumbler, a mortise cylinder, a rim cylinder, or something else.
3. Remove the cylinder or open the plug. Depending on the lock, we take off the hardware, pull the cylinder, and use a plug follower so the pins and springs stay in place while the plug comes out.
4. Clear the old pins and set new ones. We remove the old key pins and install a new set, chosen from a rekey kit, measured so the combination matches the key we will cut for you.
5. Cut and test the new key. We cut the key to the new combination, put the plug back, and run the key through the lock repeatedly. It should turn smoothly without sticking or needing a jiggle.
6. Test the old key. This is the step people forget. We try the old key and confirm it no longer turns the lock.
7. Reinstall and check the door. We put the hardware back and operate the bolt and latch with the door open and closed, because a lock that turns fine on the bench can still bind in a door that has shifted.
8. Hand over the keys. You get the new keys and an honest word about anything we noticed on the way.

What does a professional check while the lock is open?

A rekey puts a technician face to face with the inside of your lock, which is a good moment to look at its condition. We check for worn or burred pins, a plug that drags, springs that feel weak, and debris or old lubricant gumming the cylinder. A lock that is dirty or dry may need cleaning and the right lubricant, not just new pins.

We also look at the parts around the cylinder: whether the deadbolt throws fully into the strike, whether the strike plate is screwed into solid framing, and whether the latch lines up with the door. None of that is part of a rekey itself, but a freshly rekeyed lock is only useful if the door actually secures. If we see something that needs attention, we say so, explain it, and let you decide. We do not turn a rekey into a sales visit.

How do hardware and key systems change the job?

No two properties are quite the same, and the hardware decides how straightforward a rekey is. These are the variations that matter most.

• Different brands, one key. Locks from different manufacturers use different keyways, so one key cannot always operate all of them just by changing pins. We can match locks that share a keyway, and where they do not, the options are swapping a cylinder or accepting a second key.
• Kwikset SmartKey and similar self-rekeying locks. Some locks are built so that rekeying is done with a small tool and the current key. That works well when you have a working key. If you do not, the lock may need other handling.
• Mortise locks. Common on older doors and some commercial storefronts, these have a removable cylinder inside a larger lock body, so the work is different from rekeying a typical deadbolt.
• Interchangeable core and master key systems. Some commercial buildings use removable cores or master key hierarchies. Rekeying inside a system means planning the key structure first, so one change does not accidentally lock out the people who need access.
• Restricted keyways. Some high-security cylinders only accept keys cut from controlled blanks. That is a different category of lock, covered in our high-security locks page.
• Smart locks. The keyed cylinder under a smart lock can still be rekeyed. Access codes and app permissions are a separate matter and are managed on the device.
• Padlocks, cabinets, mailboxes, and gates. Many of these can be rekeyed, some cannot economically, and some are better replaced. We tell you which is which after looking.

Home, apartment, and commercial rekeying: what is different?

House rekey and home lock rekey calls are usually about one household and a handful of doors: front, back, garage entry, maybe a side gate. The big decision is whether everything goes on one key. We often recommend it because it is simpler to live with, as long as the hardware allows it.

Apartment lock rekey work is often about timing and access. A tenant moves out, the next one moves in, and the unit has to be secured in between. Property managers who rekey on every turnover know exactly who holds a key at any moment, which is far easier than tracking keys handed out over the years. For buildings with many units, we can discuss how to organize the work so it does not turn into repeat visits.

Commercial rekey and business lock rekey jobs bring more variables: more doors, mixed hardware, staff who need different levels of access, and sometimes a master key system. Before we touch anything, we talk through who needs to open what. A rushed commercial rekey can leave a manager locked out of their own stockroom, so we plan first and cut keys second.

What can rekeying not fix?

Rekeying is great at one thing: changing who can operate a lock. It is not a repair, and it is not an upgrade. A few cases where we will steer you elsewhere:

If the lock is broken, damaged, or has failed internally, new pins will not help. A sticking latch, a loose knob, or a cylinder that spins freely points to lock repair or replacement. If the hardware is very old, badly worn, or no longer matches how you use the door, lock replacement is usually the sounder investment.

Rekeying also does not make a weak lock strong. A cylinder that is easy to defeat is still easy to defeat with new keys. If your concern is stronger protection, not just key control, we will talk about better hardware instead of pretending a rekey solves it.

And rekeying does nothing about a door that does not close properly, a rotted frame, or a window that is the easier way in. We will tell you if we see that, but a rekey will not fix it. Vehicle ignition and door key work is a separate job with its own rules; we confirm what applies by VIN, in person, rather than guess.

What affects the cost of a rekey?

We do not quote a number on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the job. Here is what moves the cost up or down:

• How many cylinders are being rekeyed. Each one takes hands-on work, so the total follows the count.
• The type of lock. A standard deadbolt is simpler than a mortise cylinder or a restricted-keyway lock.
• Whether the locks share a keyway when you want one key for all of them.
• The condition of the hardware. Worn or dirty locks can take longer, and some are better replaced than rekeyed.
• How many new keys you need cut.
• Whether it is a straightforward single-property job or a larger system, such as many units or a master key structure.
• When and where you need us. After-hours and distant calls involve more of our time than a scheduled visit nearby.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a rekey?

We have been in business since 1987, and David, our owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and also operate mobile service vans, so you are not dealing with a call center that hands your address to whoever is free. One company answers the phone, one company does the work.

Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. That matters for rekeys more than people expect, because the urgency is often emotional: a stolen bag, a bad breakup, a tenant who left in a hurry.

A word on choosing any locksmith: California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), called an LCO license. Ask for it before work begins. It is a fair question and a reputable company will not mind answering.

Where do we rekey locks?

We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You can browse the full list on our locations page to find your area. If you want to see how the service looks in a specific place, we have city versions, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pasadena.

This page is about the craft itself, which is the same wherever the door is. The city pages add local detail. If you are not sure whether we cover your address, call (213) 577-1366 and we will tell you plainly.

Lock Rekey near you

• Los Angeles
• Beverly Hills
• Santa Monica
• Culver City
• West Hollywood
• Sherman Oaks
• Marina del Rey
• Ladera Heights
• Encino
• Inglewood
• Studio City
• View Park–Windsor Hills
• Van Nuys
• Lake Balboa
• All service areas

Related services

• Residential Locksmith
• Change Locks
• Lock Replacement
• Lock Repair
• Lock Installation
• Deadbolt Installation