Locksmiths near you

Rekeying keeps the lock you have and changes only the key that opens it. The locksmith removes the cylinder, swaps the small pins inside for a new combination and cuts new keys. It's the quick answer when the hardware is sound but you don't know who holds copies: after a move, a lost key ring, a breakup or the end of a renovation.

Replacing makes more sense when the lock is worn, damaged by a break-in attempt or simply low quality, when you want a different type such as a keypad or smart lock, or when you're upgrading to a high-security cylinder. It can also be the moment to have all exterior doors work with the same key, as long as the new locks are compatible with each other.

No lock is stronger than the door and frame it's mounted on. A good locksmith looks at the whole assembly, including the hinges, the jamb and any glass within reach of the lock, before recommending an upgrade.

Lockouts happen at bad moments, and a few operators count on that: a low price quoted on the phone turns into a much higher bill at the door, or a lock that could have been opened is drilled and replaced. Consumer Protection BC advises finding a trustworthy locksmith before you need one, checking reviews and licensing, and getting a written quote first.

In Quebec, locksmithing is one of the private security activities regulated under the Private Security Act. The Bureau de la sécurité privée issues licences in this sector, and its public register lets you check whether a locksmith's licence is valid.

In British Columbia, the province licenses businesses and individuals who offer security services, locksmiths included. Consumer Protection BC notes that a locksmith must carry their licence at all times and show it if asked, that the licence can be verified online, and that complaints under the security services rules go to the Registrar of Security Services.

Elsewhere, the rules differ from province to province, so check with your provincial consumer protection office. Where no licence applies, rely on other signs of a real business: a verifiable address, a written estimate, a proper invoice and liability insurance.

When you buy or rent a home, there's no way to know how many keys are still out there: previous owners and their family, contractors, cleaners, dog walkers or the neighbour who watered the plants. Rekeying every lock right after you move in closes that gap with far less work than replacing the hardware.

Security should never come at the cost of getting out in a fire. In a smoke-filled house, people need to open exit doors quickly, in the dark, without hunting for a key. That rules out hardware that needs a key on the inside, such as a double-cylinder deadbolt on a door you'd use to escape, and it means any added bolts or bars must open from the inside by hand.

The same logic applies to bedroom windows fitted with security bars, and to basement bedrooms and secondary suites where the way out may be limited. Building and fire codes set specific requirements for exits that vary by province and municipality, so ask the locksmith to confirm the hardware suits the door's role, and check with your local fire department if in doubt.