Broward County, FL
Rekey Locks in Delray Beach — Same Locks, Brand-New Keys
Same-day rekeying for Delray Beach homes, condos, rentals and small businesses, usually finished in under an hour. Owner-operated, licensed & insured, 9 AM–7 PM, 7 days a week.
What Rekeying Does, in Plain Terms
A pin-tumbler lock holds a row of small spring-loaded pins, and each pin is cut to match one particular key. To rekey, we take the cylinder out, change those pins to a new combination and put it back. The lock stays on your door; the keys change.
The result is what most people actually want: every old key stops working for good. Your current copies, the one a past tenant kept, the spare you gave a contractor, all of them become useless pieces of brass, and you get fresh keys for the new combination.
It is fast, it costs far less than buying and fitting new hardware, and for many Delray properties it is exactly the right fix. In many cases we can do every door in a house on a single key.
When Delray Beach Owners Call for a Rekey
Six situations account for most of the rekeying work we do in town. See if yours is on the list.
You just bought or moved in
The most common one. Past owners, former tenants, cleaners, realtors and contractors may all have keys. Rekeying makes sure the only keys that work are the ones you were handed at closing.
A tenant moved out
Standard turnover for Delray landlords and property managers, and far cheaper than replacing hardware on every unit. Our Florida landlord rekeying guide explains what the law and good practice suggest.
A key went missing
Lost on the beach, dropped at a Pineapple Grove restaurant, left in a rideshare. If the key has an address on it or anyone could connect it to your door, rekey. It is cheaper than finding out the hard way.
Someone’s access should end
A former roommate, a contractor who kept a copy, a house-sitter, an ex. Rekeying cuts off access quietly, without any confrontation about who still has a key.
You are tired of carrying a keyring
Front door, back door, garage entry, lanai and a shed lock, each on a different key. We can rekey the locks that share a keyway to match, so one key opens everything you want it to.
Seasonal and vacation-rental turnover
Delray has a large snowbird and short-term rental population. Hosts and owners often rekey between seasons or between rental guests so that nobody who stayed before still has working access. We can schedule around your check-in dates.
Rekey or Replace? The Honest Answer
A locksmith who always recommends new hardware is selling hardware. In most cases rekeying is the better value, but not in every case, and we will tell you which one applies to your door.
Rekey when…
- The locks work smoothly and you only want the old keys retired
- You just bought a home or a tenant just moved out
- The hardware is decent quality and in good shape
- You want several doors on the same key
- Your association or landlord prefers the existing hardware
Replace when…
- The key sticks, grinds or has to be jiggled
- Salt air has corroded the lock — common on the barrier island and east of Federal Highway
- It is thin builder-grade hardware on an exterior door
- You want a keypad, smart lock or a stronger grade
- There are signs someone tried to force the door
Plenty of Delray properties end up with a mix: rekey the solid locks and replace the one worn-out deadbolt. That is a normal outcome, and we will line everything up on one key either way.
What Is Specific About Rekeying in Delray Beach
Older homes and historic districts
Homes in Old Delray, the Marina Historic District and Pineapple Grove often have older locks. Many can be rekeyed without trouble; some are better replaced. We look at it before quoting.
Condos with building-level keying
Some Delray condo and mid-rise buildings control the keys or the hardware on unit doors, and many have rules about what can be changed. A quick call to the office or property manager before we start avoids a surprise.
Impact doors in newer neighborhoods
West Delray communities and recently renovated homes often have multipoint hardware on impact and French doors. These can usually be rekeyed too, though they take a little longer than a single deadbolt.
Mixed brands in one home
Doors added or replaced over the years rarely match. Kwikset-family and Schlage-family locks can often be combined on one key, and we will say so up front if a particular door cannot.
What affects the price: how many cylinders, whether they are one brand, whether any are multipoint or mortise, and how old the hardware is. You get a specific quote before we start, and the same-visit schedule is usually under an hour for a typical home.
Other Delray Beach Locksmith Services
We rekey across the area too, including Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Lake Worth, Lantana and Deerfield Beach.
What customers say
"My experience with Joe with PBC Locksmith was an amazing one. I contacted him/the company to rekey my Accordion Shutters. Joe was professional, easy to work with, punctual and clear about the cost. He made the entire process so simple, easy, quick! Exactly what I needed."
"Imagine closing on a new home, and then going to open it for the first time and the lock is busted! I called Joe at PBC Locksmith, and he said he could be there in a half hour! The deadbolt was completely broken so he took that out and replaced it, and was able to just rekey the bottom lock."
"As the HOA President in my community, we needed our common area door lock issue addressed as soon as possible. Joe from PBC came the next day and immediately addressed the situation. I'm aware many companies take advantage of a HOA, but Joe charged us what he would charge any other customer."
A few of our 270+ five-star reviews — Thumbtack · Google · Yelp
Frequently Asked Questions
What does rekeying a lock do?
The lock stays on the door. We take the cylinder out, change its internal pins to a new combination and reinstall it. Every old key stops working and you receive new keys that fit the new combination.
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing the locks?
Almost always. You keep the hardware and only pay to change the key combination. Replacing is worth it when the lock is worn, damaged or low quality, and we will tell you which case applies.
I just bought a place in Delray Beach. Should I rekey?
Yes, and it is the first thing to do. Previous owners, tenants, agents and contractors may all still have working keys. A rekey takes under an hour for a typical home and makes the keys you were given at closing the only ones that work.
Can all of my locks be keyed alike?
Usually, as long as the locks share a compatible keyway, which most Kwikset and Schlage-family locks do. If one door has a different kind of lock, we can tell you whether it can join the group.
How long does rekeying take?
A typical Delray Beach home with three to five cylinders is generally done in under an hour. Larger properties, mortise or multipoint doors and older hardware take a little longer.
Do I need HOA or condo approval to rekey in Delray Beach?
Almost never for a rekey, since the lock looks the same afterward. Associations tend to care about changing the hardware or finish on exterior doors, not the key combination. If your building holds a master key, check with the office first.
Can you rekey impact doors and French doors?
Usually. Many Delray homes with impact doors and French doors use multipoint locks, which can often be rekeyed with a bit more time. We will confirm what you have when we see a photo.
My tenant moved out of my Delray rental. Is rekeying enough?
For most landlords, yes, and it is the standard turnover step. If a lock is worn or damaged, we replace that one at the same visit. Either way, you receive a fresh set of keys for the next tenant.
Need a Locksmith in Delray Beach Today?
Open now until 7 PM — call or text and you'll always reach the owner directly.
Serving Delray Beach, FL
PBC Locksmith covers all of Delray Beach, FL — same-day appointments, 9 AM to 7 PM, 7 days a week. Call or text and you will reach Joe directly.
Request a Quote or Callback
Out of hours, or don't feel like talking? Leave your details and Joe will get back to you — usually the same day, and always before he shows up in Delray Beach.