When an employee leaves, a tenant moves out, or a key goes missing, rekeying the affected doors is the fastest way to restore control. We rekey commercial cylinders, mortise locks, storefront locks and padlocks on-site, and design master key systems so managers carry one key while staff keys open only what they should. Service across San Diego County, with early-morning and weekend scheduling.
What you get
- Storefront, mortise, lever and padlock cylinders rekeyed on-site
- Master key systems designed around how your space is actually used
- Restricted keyways that cannot be copied at a hardware store
- Early-morning and weekend scheduling so you stay open
- Key schedules and records for your facilities file
Commercial rekeying explained
Commercial doors use a wider range of cylinders than homes do: key-in-lever and key-in-knob cylinders on office doors, mortise cylinders on wood and steel doors, rim cylinders behind exit devices, and threaded mortise cylinders in narrow-stile aluminum storefront doors. Many buildings also use small or large format interchangeable cores.
All of them rekey. The mechanism is still pin tumbler, so we pull the cylinder or core, re-pin it to a new key or to your existing master system, and put it back. Downtime per door is minutes, and the door hardware, closers and exit devices are untouched.
If you are weighing rekeying against new hardware, rekey vs. change locks applies to commercial doors just as it does to homes.
When to rekey a business
- An employee with keys leaves, especially a manager or anyone who opened and closed.
- A commercial tenant moves out and the space is being re-leased.
- A key is lost, or a key ring turns up somewhere it should not.
- A build-out finishes and the general contractor and subs held keys for months.
- After a break-in or attempted entry, alongside repairing any damage.
- You inherited a building with no idea who holds what.
Restaurants in Hillcrest and the Gaslamp, medical suites in Kearny Mesa and warehouses in Otay Mesa all have the same core problem: too many keys, no record of who has them.
A commercial tenant turnover works like a residential turnover rekey with more doors. After a break-in we handle it the same way as lost or stolen keys, including replacing any hardware that was damaged.
Need commercial rekey & master keys today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
How master key systems work
A master key system gives every door its own key while a small number of higher-level keys open groups of doors. It is built by adding master pins to each cylinder so two or more keys reach a shear line.
Change keys, masters and grand masters
A change key opens one door. A master opens every door in a group, such as one floor or one suite. A grand master opens everything. Most small businesses need two levels; multi-tenant buildings often need three.
Keyways and key control
All cylinders in a system share a keyway. On a standard keyway anyone can copy a key. On a restricted keyway, blanks are only available to the issuing locksmith and keys are cut against a signature list, so you know exactly how many exist.
Planning for growth
We chart the system with spare change keys so a new office or a new tenant can be added later without re-pinning the whole building.
Interchangeable cores for fast turnover
If your building uses small format (SFIC) or large format (LFIC) interchangeable cores, rekeying gets even faster. A control key pulls the entire core out of the lock in seconds, and a freshly pinned core drops in. We can re-pin cores on-site or supply pre-pinned cores so a manager can swap them without us.
This is the right setup for businesses with constant staff changes, shared spaces, and property managers who want to handle routine turnovers themselves. Owners of mixed-use buildings with apartments upstairs should also read rekeying between tenants in California.
Storefront and glass door locks
Narrow-stile aluminum storefront doors use a deadlock or hookbolt with a threaded mortise cylinder on the outside and a second cylinder or a thumbturn inside. These rekey the same way as any pin tumbler cylinder, and we carry replacement cylinders in standard lengths and finishes when one is worn or has been drilled.
While we are there we check the bolt throw and the door closer. A storefront door that does not close fully leaves the deadlock unlatched, which is a bigger problem than any key.
Exit devices, fire doors and code
Rekeying never changes how a door behaves from the inside. Exit devices and fire-rated doors have to keep working the way the fire code requires, and we only touch the cylinder that controls entry from outside. If you are thinking about adding locks or access control to an exit door, talk to us first; some changes need a fire marshal sign-off and we will tell you when that is the case.
Commercial rekeying across San Diego
Offices in Mission Valley and UTC, retail in Carlsbad and Escondido, light industrial in Kearny Mesa, Santee and Otay Mesa. Multi-location businesses get one contact and consistent keying across sites. Back doors and stock rooms with constant staff turnover often do better with a keypad lever than with keys. Early morning and weekend appointments fall inside our normal hours, and after-close visits are available on request, so the work need not happen in front of customers. Start with a quote request and a door count.
Commercial Rekey & Master Keys: common questions
How fast can you rekey after an employee leaves?
Usually the same day. Tell us which doors that person could open and we rekey those cylinders, or re-pin them within your existing master system so other staff keys keep working. Most small offices and shops are done in under an hour, often before opening or after close.
What is the difference between a master key system and keyed alike?
Keyed alike means every lock opens with the same key, so everyone has access to everything. A master key system gives each door its own key and reserves an all-access master for management. Businesses with more than a couple of people almost always want a master system.
Can you make keys that cannot be copied?
Yes, with a restricted keyway. The blanks are not sold to hardware stores or key kiosks, and we cut new keys only for people on your authorization list. A "Do Not Duplicate" stamp on a standard key does not prevent copying and should not be relied on.
Do you rekey interchangeable core locks?
Yes, both small format (SFIC) and large format (LFIC) cores. We can re-pin your existing cores, supply new pre-pinned cores, and set up a control key so your own staff can swap cores during turnovers.
Will rekeying interrupt business hours?
It does not have to. Each door is out of service for a few minutes, and we schedule around your opening and closing times, including early mornings and weekends, with after-close visits on request. Exit doors keep working from the inside the entire time.
Do we get a record of the keying?
Yes. You receive a key schedule listing each door, which key opens it, and how many keys were issued. For restricted systems we also keep the authorization list so future keys are only cut for approved people.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Rekey vs. Change Locks: Which Do You Actually Need? – Rekeying keeps your locks and kills old keys. Replacing swaps the hardware. Decide in two minutes with costs, timing and San Diego examples.
- Rekeying Between Tenants in California: What Landlords Should Know – California has no statewide law forcing landlords to rekey between tenants, but deadbolt rules, liability and cost point the same way. A San Diego guide.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.