What is lock rekeying, and when does it make sense?
Rekeying is the lighter-touch way to take back control of who can open your doors. Inside a standard pin tumbler lock there is a set of small pins that line up only when the right key is inserted. To rekey, a technician removes the cylinder, swaps out those pins for a new combination, and cuts fresh keys to match. The lock body, the handle, and the deadbolt stay exactly as they are. The only thing that changes is which key works.
That matters because every key that has ever been cut for your lock is a standing invitation. A previous owner, a former tenant, a contractor, a dog walker, an ex-roommate, or a stranger who picked up a dropped key ring can all still get in if the lock has never been rekeyed. After a rekey, those old keys turn into pieces of brass that no longer do anything.
Rekeying makes the most sense when your hardware is in good shape and your only concern is who holds keys. If the lock is worn out, damaged, or a style you simply dislike, a different service fits better, and we will tell you so honestly when we see the door. Our job on a rekey call is to match the fix to the problem, not to sell you more than you need.
When do Tarzana customers call for a rekey?
Most rekey calls come from a handful of situations. The common thread is that someone else may be holding a working key and you cannot be sure who.
- Rekey locks after moving: you have just taken over a rental or a home and have no idea how many copies exist.
- Rekey locks after buying a house: the seller, the agent, the previous contractors, and possibly neighbors all may have had access during the sale.
- Rekey locks after a tenant moves out: you want the next occupant to be the only person with a key, without paying for new hardware on every door.
- Rekey locks after losing keys: a lost key ring with an address attached, or no way to tell where it fell, is a good reason to cut off that key.
- After a breakup, a roommate change, or ending a relationship with a caretaker, cleaner, or contractor.
- Rekey all house locks so every exterior door, the garage entry, and a side gate open with one key instead of a ring of five.
How does a house rekey work, step by step?
Here is how a typical home lock rekey goes when one of our technicians arrives at a Tarzana address. A rekey of door locks is quick work for someone who does it daily, but each step has a reason.
- We look at every lock you want changed: front door, back door, garage entry, side gate, and any deadbolts. We confirm each one is a rekeyable lock in working order.
- We confirm who we are working for. For a home you live in, that is easy. For a rental or a recent purchase, we may ask for some basic proof that you have the right to change the locks.
- We remove each cylinder, take out the old pins, and install a new pin set cut to a new key pattern. If you want several locks to share one key, we pin them all to the same pattern.
- We cut your new keys and test each one in its lock several times, including the deadbolt throw and the latch, so you are not discovering a sticky lock later.
- We test that the old key no longer operates the lock. This is the whole point of the job, so we do not skip it.
- We hand over the keys and tell you plainly if anything we noticed, like a loose strike plate or a sagging door, could affect how the lock behaves.
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Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of rekeying in Tarzana?
We do not quote prices on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the doors in front of us. Here is what moves the cost up or down so you can judge any quote you receive, ours included.
The biggest factor is the number of cylinders. A rekey is priced around each lock being changed, so a front door with a deadbolt and a knob involves more work than a single deadbolt. Rekeying all house locks to one key adds a little planning but often saves you from carrying a heavy key ring.
The type of lock matters next. Standard residential brands are generally straightforward. Some high-security cylinders, restricted keyways, and commercial systems take more time or need specialty parts, and a few can only be re-pinned at the factory.
Timing and travel play a part too. A scheduled visit during the day is usually the more economical route compared with a middle-of-the-night call, and mobile service to your door involves travel from our Westwood storefront. The number of extra keys you want cut also adds to the total.
Finally, there is condition. If a lock is worn or damaged and cannot be rekeyed reliably, we will say so before starting. Fixing a cylinder that is failing is a separate conversation from rekeying one that works. Ask for the full amount before we begin, and a trustworthy locksmith will give it to you.
Should you rekey, change, or replace the lock?
Rekey when the lock itself is sound and you only want new keys. It is the lighter-cost option in most cases, because you keep the hardware you already have.
If you want a different look, a stronger deadbolt, or the existing hardware is worn, changing the locks gives you new hardware and new keys in one visit. When a lock is damaged, corroded, or failing, lock replacement is the right fix, since rekeying a part that is about to fail only postpones the problem.
One more point on keys: a rekey does not stop you from having spares. After the new pattern is set, we can cut as many copies as you need, and you can order more later through our key duplication service. Just keep in mind that every extra copy is another key to track, so cut only what you will actually hand out.
If you are unsure which category your door falls in, call and describe it. We would rather talk it through on the phone than send you the wrong service.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Tenant turnover, landlords, and commercial rekeys
Tenant turnover rekey is one of the most practical uses of this service. When a tenant leaves, you cannot know whether they kept a copy, gave one to a friend, or lost one. Rekeying the unit between tenants closes that door every time, and it is much faster than swapping hardware. For apartment lock rekey work, we can set each unit to its own key, or match a unit to a building-level pattern when that is what the property uses. If you manage several units, our page for landlords and property managers explains how we handle repeat work and recordkeeping.
Business lock rekey follows the same logic with a few extra wrinkles. A commercial rekey often covers a front door, a back door, an office, a supply closet, and sometimes a cash or records room, and the owner may want different employees to carry different keys. When that is the goal, a master key system lets a manager open everything while staff keys open only their own doors. For a broader look at business work, see our commercial locksmith page.
One practical tip for any business: rekey when a key-holding employee leaves, not months later. It is a small, routine job and removes a guessing game about who still has access.
Rekeying in Tarzana: Melody Acres, Mulholland Park, and the Ventura corridor
Tarzana does not have a single type of door, which is why a rekey here is rarely a one-size-fits-all job. ZIP code 91356 covers a wide mix of properties, and the right approach changes with the neighborhood.
North of Ventura Boulevard, the North Tarzana flats along the Victory and Vanowen corridors and the postwar ranch tracts are full of homes that have changed hands over decades. Older locks on those houses may have had many keys cut over the years, so a house rekey after buying is a sensible first step for a new owner. The same goes for older homes where nobody can say how many people ever held a key.
In Melody Acres, where lots are equestrian-zoned, a property often has more than a front door to think about. Driveway gates and paddock gates sit outside in the Valley heat and weather faster than protected entries, so when we rekey there we look at the exterior hardware, not just the house. If a gate lock is failing instead of simply needing new keys, we will point you to gate lock repair rather than rekey a part that is on its way out.
South of the boulevard, estate homes in places like Mulholland Park and Braemar Estates tend to have several entry points: main doors, service doors, garage entries, pool or guest-house doors, and sometimes more. Rekeying all house locks to a single key, or to a small set of keys, is a popular request after a sale or a change in household staff. Sun and canyon wind in the Santa Monica Mountains foothills are harder on exterior hardware, so we check for wear while the cylinder is out.
Along the Ventura Boulevard corridor, condo and apartment buildings call for a different kind of care. Many have shared hardware or building rules, so we first confirm what in the unit is yours to rekey. Near Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, medical office doors often need a rekey when staff change or a practice moves in, and on the Tarzana Safari Walk business district, storefront owners rekey after staff turnover or a new lease. We serve all of these from our Westwood storefront and mobile vans, roughly 14 miles away, and we can come to you at any hour.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a rekey?
Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. That is long enough to have rekeyed nearly every kind of residential and commercial lock you are likely to own, and long enough that we are not going anywhere if you have a question later.
We are a single company with a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, plus our own mobile service vans. When you call, you are not being handed to a call center that sells your job to whoever picks it up. The people who answer are with the company that sends the technician.
David, our owner and lead technician, oversees the work. If a lock is odd, a customer is unsure, or a job needs a second opinion, that is where it goes.
On licensing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO (Locksmith Company Operator) license. You should ask any locksmith you hire, including us, for that license number before work begins. A reputable company will give it to you without hesitation.
And we are available around the clock. The line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, which matters when you lose keys at night or need a lock secured right after a move.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks?
Rekeying keeps the existing lock and changes the internal pins so a new key works and old keys do not. Changing locks installs new hardware. Rekeying is usually the lighter-cost route when your locks are in good condition. If you want new hardware, see our page on changing locks.
Will my old keys still work after a rekey?
No. Once the pins are changed, the old key will not turn the lock. We test that during the visit so you can see it for yourself. Only the new keys we cut will operate the lock.
Should I rekey after buying a house in Tarzana?
Yes, it is one of the most common reasons people call. You cannot know how many copies of the old keys exist, who has them, or whether previous contractors and agents kept one. Rekeying right after closing means that you start with a clean slate.
Can you rekey all my house locks to one key?
In most cases, yes. We can pin the front door, back door, garage entry, and compatible deadbolts to the same pattern. Locks from different brands or very different keyways sometimes cannot share a key, and we will tell you which ones those are when we inspect them.
Do you rekey commercial doors and apartment units?
Yes. We handle commercial rekey and business lock rekey for offices, medical suites, and storefronts, and apartment lock rekey between tenants. If you want different staff to open different doors, a master key system may be a better fit than a plain rekey.
Can every lock be rekeyed?
Most standard residential and commercial pin tumbler locks can. Some are worn, damaged, or built in a way that makes rekeying unreliable, and a few high-security or restricted-keyway cylinders need factory service. Smart locks usually change access through codes instead. We will tell you plainly if your lock is not a good rekey candidate.
I lost my keys. Should I rekey or just replace the lock?
If the lock works well, rekeying is usually enough and costs less than new hardware, because the lost key stops working once the pins are changed. If the lock is old, damaged, or you want better security, replacement may make more sense. We can look at the door and tell you which route fits.
Do you come to my home or business for a rekey?
Yes. Our mobile vans come to Tarzana addresses, and you can also reach our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd. The phone line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can book a visit at whatever time you are thinking about it.
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Lock Rekey near Tarzana
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.