Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Trusted Lock Installation & Rekey for Los Angeles Homeowners
Our Lock Installation & Rekey cost guide shows Los Angeles pricing typically runs $29-$89 per cylinder for rekeying and $180-$450 for new lock installation, with same-day service available across the metro area. Novak Lock & Security Los Angeles has installed or serviced more than 60,000 locks, keys, and systems since 2002, every one starting with a written price quoted by phone and ending with a documented photo record left with the customer. If you’ve moved into a home in Silver Lake, bought a rental property in Venice, or need to retire a lost key after a roommate change in Koreatown, we can rekey your existing hardware or install new locks the same day you call. Reach us at (213) 632-4875. A live person answers, 24/7.
Los Angeles presents specific challenges for residential locks: coastal salt air corrodes hardware faster inland, the 2019 CalGreen Building Code and local amendments affect permitted hardware on certain door types, and the sheer range of home ages - from 1920s Spanish Revival in West Adams to 2023 builds in Playa Vista - means we encounter everything from original mortise locks to factory-fresh smart deadbolts. We don’t guess. We inspect, name the part, name the price, and document what we found.
What Our Lock Installation & Rekey Service Includes
Smart Lock Installation
A smart lock replaces your traditional deadbolt or lever with a motorized unit that connects to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Z-Wave, allowing keyless entry via smartphone, voice command, or scheduled access codes. In Los Angeles, we install smart locks most often for homeowners in Brentwood and Studio City who want remote access for housekeepers, dog walkers, or Airbnb guests. Our technicians factory-pair the lock to your network, test signal strength at the door frame (a common failure point in stucco-over-wire-mesh construction), and leave you with a written setup guide and the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Keyless Entry
Keyless entry systems use proximity cards, fobs, or smartphone credentials to unlock doors without physical keys. We install these for Los Angeles homeowners who want the convenience of a car-style fob for their front door, and for small multi-unit buildings in West Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles where traditional key management becomes unworkable. Novak Lock & Security Los Angeles programs each credential on-site, registers the master override, and provides a written credential log under The Haven Standard.
Keypad Lock
A keypad lock mounts a numeric entry panel on the exterior of your door, storing multiple user codes that can be added or deleted without rekeying the cylinder. We recommend keypad locks for Los Angeles families with children who lose keys, for rental properties in Culver City where tenant turnover is frequent, and for home offices in Sherman Oaks where contractors need temporary access. Our installation includes strike-plate reinforcement, since many keypad failures we see in older Los Angeles homes trace back to door-frame flex from undersized strikes.
Biometric Lock
Biometric locks authenticate entry through fingerprint, iris scan, or facial recognition, storing authorized users locally in encrypted memory. These are still specialized in residential Los Angeles, but we install them increasingly for home safes, wine rooms, and private offices in Beverly Hills and Hancock Park where key control is paramount. We calibrate the sensor for your specific environment - a fingerprint reader that works flawlessly in dry Pasadena air may need adjustment for coastal humidity in Venice - and document the enrolled users in your written service record.
Electronic Lock
Electronic locks encompass any lock powered by electricity or batteries, including magnetic locks, electric strikes, and motorized deadbolts. In Los Angeles, we install electronic locks for modern homes with integrated security systems, for Inglewood Lock Installation & Rekey for ADU conversions and Westchester where separate metering requires separate access control, and for garage-to-house doors that must meet current fire-safety separation codes. Every electronic lock installation includes voltage testing at the door, battery-backup verification, and a written power-failure procedure.
Key Duplication
Key duplication creates working copies from an existing key, but with a critical distinction: we can duplicate standard keys while you wait, and we can originate keys for high-security cylinders that require authorization cards and factory-blank tracking. For Los Angeles homeowners with Medeco or Mul-T-Lock systems, duplication without the registered card is impossible by design - a security feature, not a inconvenience. We verify your credentials, cut to factory spec on calibrated duplicators, and log the transaction under The Haven Standard.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Lock Installation & Rekey
We are factory-authorized for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage, and we stock OEM parts and factory blanks for each. Our Medeco work focuses on the M3 and X4 residential cylinders common in Los Angeles hillside homes where pick resistance and drill resistance are specified by insurance riders. We’ve serviced hundreds of Medeco units since 2002 and maintain the authorization required to cut replacement keys when the original card is lost - a procedure that requires verified identity documentation and a signed affidavit under Haven Standard Clause 7.
Schlage represents the bulk of our residential installation volume in Los Angeles: the Connect Z-Wave series for smart-home integration, the B660P commercial-grade deadbolt for reinforced entry doors, and the ever-reliable AL series levers for interior applications. We also work with Kwikset’s SmartKey system, which allows homeowners to rekey their own locks without disassembly - though we note that SmartKey cylinders we’ve inspected in older Los Angeles homes often show accelerated wear from salt air and require replacement rather than rekeying. Whether you have Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Baldwin, or any other make, we can service it, quote it in writing, and document what we found.
Signs You Need Lock Installation & Rekey Right Now
- You’ve moved into a new or new-to-you home. Every previous owner, contractor, realtor, and neighbor who watched the key handoff could retain a copy. In Los Angeles, where escrow closes fast and possession dates slide, we see this constantly in neighborhoods like Eagle Rock and Atwater Village. Rekeying costs a fraction of replacement and secures your perimeter the same day.
- Your key sticks, requires jiggling, or works only at certain angles. This indicates pin-chamber wear, key-bitting erosion, or internal corrosion - all progressive failures that end in a snapped key or a lock that won’t open at all. The marine layer that rolls into Venice and Santa Monica accelerates this corrosion; we’ve extracted broken keys from locks that worked “fine yesterday” more times than we can count.
- You’ve lost track of who has keys. Housekeepers, dog walkers, former partners, grown children who moved out - each represents an uncontrolled access point. Rekeying restores key control without the cost of new hardware, and we can master-key the new setup so your single key operates multiple doors while service personnel use restricted sub-keys.
- Your lock hardware is more than 15 years old and visibly corroded. Los Angeles coastal exposure degrades zinc-alloy hardware faster than inland climates. We inspect locks in Pacific Palisades and Malibu where the exterior shell appears intact but the internal cam has corroded to the point of failure. Replacement with marine-grade hardware is the only durable fix.
- Your insurance policy or HOA requires specific lock grades. Many Los Angeles condo associations, particularly in newer Downtown and Arts District buildings, mandate Grade 1 or Grade 2 hardware under their CC&Rs. We identify your current grade during the free estimate, quote compliant replacement if needed, and provide the documentation your insurer or board requires.
Our Lock Installation & Rekey Process - Step by Step
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Call and receive a written price before dispatch. When you call (213) 632-4875, a live person answers. You describe your lock type, door material, and what you need - rekey, replace, or upgrade. We quote a firm price range based on standard Los Angeles configurations. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice. The technician is contractually prohibited from changing it at your door.
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On-site inspection and hardware assessment. Our background-checked, uniformed technician arrives at your Los Angeles home with a documented photo record already initiated. We inspect the existing lock, measure backset and door thickness, check frame alignment, and identify the brand and model. We report what we found - the grade of the existing lock, the condition of the strike plate, any security gaps - not what we feel about it.
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Confirm scope and begin work. Before touching tools, the technician presents a written scope of work with the final price. You sign. We photograph the pre-work condition, then proceed with rekeying, installation, or replacement using calibrated pinning kits, factory-authorized parts, and techniques specific to your hardware brand. For smart lock installations, we verify Wi-Fi signal strength at the mounting location and test Z-Wave or Bluetooth pairing before securing the unit.
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Function testing and documentation. Every installed or rekeyed lock undergoes 25-cycle function testing: key insertion, rotation, bolt throw, latch retraction, and smart-lock electronic verification where applicable. We test with all provided keys and credentials. The technician photographs the completed work, including serial numbers of installed hardware, and uploads the record to your customer file.
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Written record delivery and warranty activation. You receive a printed service record before the technician leaves: scope, parts used, labor performed, before-and-after photos, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise activation. For high-security installations, we register your ownership with the factory if brand protocol requires it. Payment is processed at the quoted price. No surprises, no add-ons, no “we found something else.”
How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in Los Angeles?
| Service | Typical Range in Los Angeles | What Affects Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rekey (per cylinder) | $29-$69 | Lock brand, cylinder type, number of keys cut |
| High-security rekey (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy) | $45-$89 | Authorization verification, factory blank cost, card replacement if lost |
| Standard deadbolt installation | $180-$280 | Door material, existing hole alignment, strike reinforcement needed |
| Smart lock installation | $220-$450 | Lock model, Wi-Fi extender needed, integration with existing system |
| Keypad or biometric lock installation | $250-$400 | Power source, door prep complexity, user enrollment count |
| Key duplication (standard) | $4-$12 | Key blank type, quantity |
| Key duplication (high-security) | $15-$35 | Factory authorization, registered card verification |
These ranges reflect our actual 2024-2025 Los Angeles pricing, not teaser rates. What moves a job within the range: door thickness beyond 1-3/4 inches (common in 1920s Los Angeles homes), stucco buildup around the strike that requires jamb modification, smart locks in signal-dead zones that need mesh-network extenders, and high-security cylinders requiring lost-card replacement procedures. We name the specific factor during your call and quote accordingly.
To avoid overpaying: get the full scope in writing before work starts (our standard practice, not an upgrade), verify that your “rekey” quote includes the service call and all new keys, and be wary of Los Angeles locksmiths advertising “$15 rekey” - the technician who arrives typically discovers “complications” that multiply the price. Our price is the price. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free, and we offer a free second opinion on any competitor’s written estimate.
Lock Installation & Rekey Near Los Angeles - Our Service Area
We serve Los Angeles and the immediate surrounding communities with typical arrival times of 25-45 minutes for emergency calls and same-day scheduling for non-urgent work. Our regular service area includes Lock Installation & Rekey in Culver City, Lock Installation & Rekey in Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Westchester, West Hollywood, Inglewood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and Downtown Los Angeles. For rekey and installation appointments (not emergency lockouts), we offer scheduled two-hour arrival windows with a 15-minute heads-up call. If you’re unsure whether we cover your address, call (213) 632-4875 - a live person will confirm availability and quote your price while you’re on the line.
Serving Los Angeles, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Los Angeles area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Lock Installation & Rekey in Los Angeles
Lock installation mounts new hardware on your door; rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of your existing lock so old keys no longer work. You need rekeying when key control is lost - after moving, tenant turnover, or a lost key - and installation when hardware is worn, outdated, or doesn’t meet your security requirements. In our Lock Installation & Rekey in Gardena and throughout Los Angeles, we perform both services same-day for most residential configurations. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A standard residential rekey takes 15-30 minutes per cylinder; a full lock installation takes 45-90 minutes depending on door prep and hardware complexity. Smart lock installations in Los Angeles homes with solid-core doors and existing deadbolt bore holes run toward the shorter end; retrofitting a mortise lock in a 1930s Spanish Revival home in Los Feliz without damaging the original door can take two hours. We quote time and price together before dispatch. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Standard rekeying in Los Angeles runs $29-$69 per cylinder; new lock installation ranges $180-$450 depending on hardware grade and door conditions. The price we quote on the phone is the full price on the invoice - Haven Standard Clause 1 prohibits our technicians from adding charges at your door. No call-out surcharge, no “service fee” added on arrival. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Yes. We are factory-authorized for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage, and we stock OEM parts for each. We’ve serviced hundreds of Medeco M3 and X4 cylinders and installed thousands of Schlage Connect and B-series deadbolts in Los Angeles homes. For Kwikset SmartKey systems, we carry replacement cores and can convert to standard pinning if the self-rekey function has failed. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Yes. We answer calls 24/7 with a live person, and we dispatch for lockouts, break-in damage, and security-compromising situations without waiting for business hours. For non-emergency rekey and installation, we offer same-day and next-day scheduling across Los Angeles. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to emergency and scheduled work equally. Call (213) 632-4875 - a live person answers, day or night.
Every job is backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we make it right, including parts, labor, and any associated damage, for one full year. This applies to every lock installation, rekey, and emergency call we perform in Los Angeles. Factory warranties on hardware run separately and vary by brand - Schlage typically offers limited lifetime mechanical warranties, Medeco’s coverage extends through authorized dealers like Novak Lock & Security Los Angeles. Your written service record specifies all applicable warranties. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Have your current keys available, identify which doors need service, and clear a working area around each door. For smart lock installations, ensure you know your Wi-Fi network name and password, and verify that your router reaches the door location - we can test this during the estimate if you’re unsure. If you’re rekeying after a move, bring proof of residency; for high-security key duplication, bring your registered authorization card. The technician photographs everything before starting, so no need to document condition yourself. Call (213) 632-4875 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Schedule Your Lock Installation & Rekey Service in Los Angeles Today
Call (213) 632-4875 now. A live person answers, 24/7, quotes a firm price before any dispatch, and schedules same-day service across Los Angeles, Culver City, Santa Monica, and surrounding areas. Every job starts with a written price and ends with a documented photo record, under The Haven Standard and the 365-Day Done Right Promise. No obligation, no pressure, no bait-and-switch - the way we’ve operated since 2002.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security, serving Los Angeles since 2002.