Lock Rekeying across greater Los Angeles, Ventura County & the Bay Area.

This page explains lock rekeying: what the job includes, what to have ready, honest limits and what sets the price.

Rekeying changes the pin stack inside your existing cylinder so a brand-new key operates it and every old key stops working. The lock body, trim and finish stay in place. It is the right move when the hardware is sound but you no longer know who has a copy of the key.

We dispatch across greater Los Angeles, Ventura County, Silicon Valley and the Bay Area; see the city pages for local detail. The dispatch line at (888) 492-0666 is answered around the clock.

• Removal of each cylinder from its deadbolt, knob or handleset
• Replacement of the bottom pins with a new combination and reassembly of the plug
• New keys cut to the fresh combination and tested in every rekeyed lock
• Keying compatible locks alike so one key runs the front, back, side and garage doors
• Cleaning and lubrication of the cylinder while it is apart
• Reinstallation and a check of key action, bolt throw and latch engagement

• You just bought a new house
• A roommate or tenant moved out
• You lost a key or your bag was stolen
• An ex-partner has a copy you can't track down
• You want to consolidate three different keys into one

• Proof you own or rent the home (ID with the address, closing documents or lease); renters also need the owner's or manager's approval
• A count of every lock you want on the new key, including gates, garage side doors and the ADU
• The brand stamped on the key or lock face if you know it (Kwikset, Schlage, Baldwin and so on)
• How many keys you want cut for the household
• One working key for each lock if you have it; it speeds the job but is not required

Typically 45-90 minutes for a home with three to five keyed doors. Mixed brands that need cylinder swaps to key alike, seized or corroded cylinders, SmartKey locks that need a reset tool, and large key orders extend the visit.

• Locks with different keyways cannot share one key; a Kwikset KW1 and a Schlage SC1 keyway, for example, need a cylinder change on one side to be keyed alike
• Worn, cracked or corroded cylinders are replaced rather than rekeyed because fresh pins will not fix a plug that is out of tolerance
• Restricted and high-security keyways (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Primus) require manufacturer authorization and the correct pins; we confirm by phone whether we can service yours
• Rentals and HOA-managed units need written approval from the owner or manager before we change keys
• Rekeying a master-keyed cylinder removes it from the master system unless we are asked to re-pin it to the chart

Pricing is driven by the number of cylinders, whether any need to be swapped to make a keyed-alike set, the lock brand and keyway (standard versus SmartKey or restricted), the number of keys cut, and the time of day. The quote covers labor, pins and keys, and is written before we start.

The dispatcher gives you a range on the phone, and the technician confirms a written quote before any work starts.

Payment is by Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and you receive an itemized receipt listing what was done.

• Kwikset KW1 and KW10 keyways, including SmartKey cylinders (reset rather than re-pinned)
• Schlage SC1 and SC4 keyways, including Everest C123 restricted-blank cylinders
• Weiser WR5, Baldwin, Emtek and Yale residential cylinders
• Defiant, Brinks and other hardware-store brands on the KW1 keyway
• Mortise cylinders on older homes and deadbolts with removable cores

Rekey when the existing locks work smoothly and you only need the old keys to stop working: after a move, a lost key or a tenant change. Replace when the lock is worn, damaged or builder grade on an exterior door you want stronger, or when you want a different function such as a keypad, a connected lock or a restricted keyway. Mixed brands can often be keyed alike by swapping cylinders rather than whole locks.

We dispatch across greater Los Angeles, Ventura County, Silicon Valley and the Bay Area; see the city pages for local detail. For lock rekeying, the city pages list ZIP codes, nearby communities and any local access notes.

Greater Los Angeles includes the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, the South Bay, the San Gabriel Valley, the Gateway Cities, the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley. Ventura County includes the Conejo Valley and the coastal cities. In the Bay Area we cover Silicon Valley, the Peninsula and the southern East Bay.

For lock rekeying, tell the dispatcher your address and what is wrong. You get an ETA before anyone is sent, a written quote before any work starts and a receipt when it is done. The line is answered around the clock.

One & Only Locksmith is bonded and insured; a certificate of insurance is available on request.