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.
Locksmith in Davis, CA
Residential locksmith work in Davis is shaped by one fact: this is a UC Davis college town with roughly 35,000 students rotating through rental housing on an academic calendar. Most of our calls involve rekeying worn Kwikset and Schlage cylinders in 1960s-1980s apartment complexes along Russell Boulevard and Sycamore Lane, or realigning deadbolt strike plates on wood-framed doors that have warped in the summer heat. You can reach us at (331) 310-8471, and yes, a live person answers.
Why Davis Homes Are Different
The housing stock in Davis runs in two directions. The bulk of rentals are purpose-built student apartments from the 1960s through the 1980s, and many of those units have original or heavily rekeyed Kwikset and Schlage hardware. It is common for us to arrive at a south Davis complex and find a cylinder so worn from repeated rekeying that a new lock makes better financial sense than another repin. At the same time, older single-family homes near the downtown core often have early-to-mid 20th-century mortise lock systems that need specialty parts rather than standard replacements.
The climate works against those older units. Summer highs above 105°F cause wooden door frames in older apartment buildings to expand, which throws deadbolt strike plates out of alignment and produces a predictable wave of calls every July and early August, right before the student move-in rush. And because UC Davis sublets and roommate changes happen mid-year, the same south Davis rental unit may need its locks rekeyed three or four times in a single 12-month stretch. That kind of churn volume does not exist in Woodland or West Sacramento, and it is why we run scheduled rekey crews in Davis during the weeks leading up to August move-in.
Our Main Davis Services
The two calls we field most from Davis homeowners are rekey and install jobs, and urgent lockouts. Each has its own Davis page with full pricing breakdowns.
Lock Installation & Rekey in Davis
This is the work that keeps Davis locksmiths busy from July through early September, when rental units turn over and landlords want a changed or repinned cylinder before new tenants arrive. In Davis specifically, we look at whether the existing cylinder is worth rekeying or whether years of student turnover have worn it past the point of a reliable repin. Full details, including per-cylinder pricing and how we handle mortise locks in older downtown homes, are on the Lock Installation & Rekey in Davis page.
Emergency Locksmith in Davis
Lockouts happen year-round, but we see a spike during the first two weeks of August when new renters are handed keys for the first time and during finals weeks when sleep-deprived students forget them inside. We also open cars in campus parking lots and along Russell Boulevard, often in under 20 minutes. Our response times and after-hours flat rates are spelled out on the Emergency Locksmith in Davis page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Residential Locksmith in Davis
Residential locksmith work in Davis means dealing with two distinct housing realities. The first is the 1960s-1980s apartment building with heavily rekeyed Kwikset or Schlage cylinders that are often at the end of their service life. The second is the older single-family home near downtown with a mortise lock that no longer has parts available at the local hardware store. Our Residential Locksmith service covers both, and every job starts with a written price quote on the phone, per Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
In practice, much of our residential work here happens in July and August, when Davis landlords and property managers rekey en masse for the UC Davis academic year. Daniel Novak, who owns and runs Novak Lock & Security, built our Davis rekey scheduling around that calendar specifically, so we can send a crew through a single south Davis complex and rekey 40 or 50 units in a day without cutting corners on documentation. Every unit gets a photo record and a written receipt before our technician leaves the property.
Lock Change
Signs you need it
You just bought a home or took over a rental and have no way to know how many previous tenants or owners still hold copies of the current key.
What it costs in Davis
A standard lock change in Davis typically runs $65-$90 per lock, including the new hardware and our labor.
How we do it
We remove the old knob or deadbolt, confirm the backset and bore size on the existing door prep, install the new lock, and test the latch and strike plate alignment before showing you the photo record.
Residential Lockout
Signs you need it
You are standing outside your own front door in Davis and your keys are on the kitchen counter; it happens more than anyone likes to admit.
What it costs in Davis
Residential lockout service in Davis starts at $75-$95 during business hours, with a firm after-hours rate quoted on the phone before we dispatch.
How we do it
We arrive, identify the lock type, pick or bypass it without drilling whenever the cylinder allows, and get you back inside, then offer to rekey the lock on the spot if you would prefer a fresh key.
Deadbolt Installation
Signs you need it
Your front door has only a knob lock and you want a single-cylinder deadbolt for the level of security that Davis landlords increasingly require in leases.
What it costs in Davis
A new deadbolt installation in Davis typically runs $85-$110 per door, depending on whether the door needs a fresh bore or already has one.
How we do it
We confirm the door thickness and existing prep, bore or enlarge the opening if needed, mount the deadbolt, and adjust the strike plate so the bolt seats fully without binding.
Lock Rekey
Signs you need it
A roommate moves out or a tenant changes, and you want the old key to stop working without replacing every lock on the property.
What it costs in Davis
Rekeying in Davis runs $25-$40 per cylinder, though worn apartment locks that cannot hold new pins may need replacement instead.
How we do it
We disassemble the cylinder, replace the pins to match a new key, reassemble and lubricate the mechanism, and test it with the new key before handing it to you.
What Residential Locksmith Costs in Davis
| Item | Typical range in Davis |
|---|---|
| Lock change | $65-$90 per lock |
| Residential lockout | $75-$95 |
| Deadbolt installation | $85-$110 per deadbolt |
| Rekey | $25-$40 per cylinder |
Prices in Davis skew slightly higher in August, when the student turn pushes demand up and we run multiple crews through large apartment complexes. The quote you get on the phone is the price you pay, regardless of what our technician finds at the door.
How fast can you get to my Davis home?
Most residential calls in central Davis, south Davis, and along Russell Boulevard are answered in 20 to 35 minutes. On August move-in weekends, response can stretch to 45 minutes because of call volume. Call (331) 310-8471 for a current dispatch time.
Do you rekey an entire Davis apartment building?
Yes, we schedule whole-complex rekeys in Davis during July and early August, when property managers are turning units between tenants. We provide a single written quote per building, a photo record for each unit, and one invoice per owner. Call (331) 310-8471 to schedule.
Commercial Locksmith in Davis
Commercial locksmith work in Davis serves a different set of buildings than the residential side: retail storefronts along G Street and the Downtown Davis core, medical and professional offices near Sutter Davis Hospital, and academic-adjacent businesses that stay open late during the school year. Many commercial spaces in older Davis buildings still run on original mortise locks or outdated master key systems that were installed years before ADA and fire-code requirements caught up with them. Our Commercial Locksmith service includes a documented security audit and a written per-lock price, no exceptions.
Commercial work here is not a dispatch-and-go job. We schedule it, survey the doors, and produce a written scope before any cylinder gets turned. If a business owner in Davis brings us a competitor’s itemized estimate, we review it and provide a free second opinion, in writing, under our standing policy.
Master Key System
Signs you need it
You have multiple employees, several staff doors, and you are tired of carrying or handing out a ring of six different keys for one building.
What it costs in Davis
A basic master key system for a small Davis office typically starts at $250-$450, depending on the number of doors and cylinders involved.
How we do it
We map every door and cylinder in the building, design a master key hierarchy that gives each staff member the right access level, repin or replace the cylinders, and hand you a documented key control chart.
High Security Locks
Signs you need it
Your business stores cash, medication, student records, or research equipment and you want cylinders that cannot be picked or bumped with standard tools.
What it costs in Davis
High-security cylinder installation in Davis typically runs $100-$175 per cylinder, plus the cost of the restricted key blanks, which we quote in writing before any work starts.
How we do it
We recommend the appropriate high-security cylinder system (commonly Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or Abloy for Davis commercial jobs), install and test each cylinder, and register your keyway so blanks cannot be copied at a hardware store counter.
Panic Bar Installation
Signs you need it
Your exit door needs to open with one push from the inside, and you want the hardware to meet fire-code requirements for your occupancy type in Davis.
What it costs in Davis
A commercial panic bar installation in Davis runs $250-$400 per door, depending on door width and whether the existing prep needs modification.
How we do it
We measure the door width and mounting points, install the bar and vertical rods if needed, set the latch, and test the release so it opens with one hand and no special knowledge.
What Commercial Locksmith Costs in Davis
| Item | Typical range in Davis |
|---|---|
| Master key system | $250-$450 |
| High security locks | $100-$175 per cylinder |
| Panic bar installation | $250-$400 per door |
| Access control | $400-$800 per door |
Commercial pricing in Davis tracks the age of the building; older mortise locks require more labor to bring up to current code. Every quote is written, and Haven Standard Clause 1 applies: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice for a defined scope, and we never add a call-out surcharge on arrival.
Do you install access control systems in Davis office suites?
Yes, we install keypad, fob, and card-reader access control systems in Davis offices and retail spaces. Pricing is per door, quoted after a site survey, and includes programming and a full user guide. Call (331) 310-8471 to schedule.
Can you cut high-security keys for a commercial building in Davis?
Yes, we cut and register high-security keys for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy cylinders. Because these are restricted keyways, we require proof of ownership or authorization from the building owner before cutting. Call (331) 310-8471 with your keyway number.
Automotive Locksmith in Davis
Automotive locksmith calls in Davis fall into predictable patterns: students lock keys in cars in campus parking structures and along Russell Boulevard, and residents with newer vehicles need transponder or fob programming that the dealership quotes two weeks out. Davis’s flat valley layout means our mobile van can reach most addresses quickly, and the summer heat adds a layer of urgency when a child or pet is inside a locked car. Our Automotive Locksmith technicians carry the programming equipment and key blanks for most major makes, and every job gets a firm phone quote before we roll a van.
Much of our automotive work here involves what we call the UC Davis churn: a student’s car, registered in another state, with a fob that has lost programming or a transponder key that snapped in the ignition. Daniel Novak’s team sees these cars every August and September, and the fix is usually done in the parking lot or driveway, not towed to a shop.
Car Lockout
Signs you need it
Your keys are on the driver’s seat and the door is locked, and the sun is beating down on the parking lot at the Davis Food Co-op.
What it costs in Davis
A car lockout in Davis runs $60-$90 during business hours, with a slightly higher after-hours rate quoted on the phone before we dispatch.
How we do it
We open the door with long-reach tools and air wedges that avoid damaging the door frame, retrieve the keys, and test the lock and latch before clearing the call.
Car Key Replacement
Signs you need it
You lost your only car key, or the key snapped off in the door or ignition, and the dealership wants a week and a towing fee.
What it costs in Davis
A basic car key replacement in Davis costs $75-$150, while transponder keys for newer vehicles run $120-$250, including programming.
How we do it
We cut the new key to the existing lock or by VIN, program the chip or transponder if the vehicle requires it, and test the key in the door and ignition before we leave.
Transponder Key
Signs you need it
Your car cranks but will not start, or the security light flashes when you insert the key, which points to a transponder chip that has lost its programming.
What it costs in Davis
Transponder key programming in Davis typically runs $120-$250 including the new key, depending on the vehicle make and year.
How we do it
We verify the vehicle’s transponder type, cut and program a new key using our mobile programmer, and test-start the vehicle while you watch.
Key Fob Programming
Signs you need it
Your remote unlock or push-to-start fob stopped working, and a fresh battery did not fix it.
What it costs in Davis
Key fob programming in Davis runs $75-$150 when you supply the fob, or $150-$300 with a new fob, depending on the make and model.
How we do it
We read the vehicle’s onboard diagnostics, program the fob to the car’s receiver, test every button and the proximity sensor, and show you the working fob before we close the job.
What Automotive Locksmith Costs in Davis
| Item | Typical range in Davis |
|---|---|
| Car lockout | $60-$90 |
| Car key replacement | $75-$150 |
| Transponder key | $120-$250 |
| Key fob programming | $75-$150 (fob supplied) |
Automotive prices in Davis run slightly higher for European makes and for vehicles that require dealer-level programming equipment. The quote you get on the phone covers the full job, including the key, the programming, and the service call; there is no additional charge when the technician arrives.
Can you make a car key without the original in Davis?
Yes. We cut new car keys by VIN for most makes, and we program transponder keys and fobs in the parking lot or driveway. You will need proof of ownership. Call (331) 310-8471 for a firm quote by make and year.
How fast can you reach a car lockout near UC Davis?
Most car lockouts near the UC Davis campus and Downtown Davis get a van in 15 to 25 minutes. Evenings and weekends during the school year are busiest. Call (331) 310-8471 and the dispatcher will give you a live ETA.
Brands We Service in Davis
We carry parts and key blanks for Yale, Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, and Sargent locks in our mobile vans, so most Davis jobs are completed same-day without a parts run across town. See our brands for the full factory-authorized list.
Pricing for Locksmith in Davis, CA
| Service | Typical range in Davis |
|---|---|
| Lock change | $65-$90 per lock |
| Residential lockout | $75-$95 |
| Deadbolt installation | $85-$110 per deadbolt |
| Lock rekey | $25-$40 per cylinder |
| Master key system | $250-$450 |
| High security locks | $100-$175 per cylinder |
| Panic bar installation | $250-$400 per door |
| Access control | $400-$800 per door |
| Car lockout | $60-$90 |
| Car key replacement | $75-$150 |
| Transponder key | $120-$250 |
| Key fob programming | $75-$150 |
What pushes a Davis job toward the top of its range is usually the age of the hardware and the condition of the door. Worn commercial mortise locks and old wooden door frames that have warped in the Valley heat take more labor to correct. What will not push the price up is the service call itself: Haven Standard Clause 1 says the price on the phone is the price on the invoice, and we do not add a call-out surcharge at the door.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Davis
We run crews across Davis every day, including:
- Downtown Davis
- South Davis
- Central Davis
- West Davis
- East Davis
Our average response time in central Davis and along the Russell Boulevard corridor is under 25 minutes; outlying areas like West Davis may run closer to 35 minutes depending on traffic.
Service Area - Cities Near Davis
Beyond Davis, we cover nearby communities across Yolo and Sacramento counties. See our pages for Woodland, CA, West Sacramento, CA, Sacramento, CA, and North Highlands, CA for service details and pricing in those areas.
Serving Davis, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Davis area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Locksmith in Davis
Most residential and automotive calls in central Davis get a technician in 20 to 35 minutes. During the August apartment turnover and the first week of the UC Davis fall quarter, response can stretch to 45 minutes. Call (331) 310-8471 for a live ETA before anyone is dispatched.
No, rekeying a lock does not require a city permit in Davis. But if you are replacing door hardware on a rental unit, the City of Davis rental housing inspection program may apply. We provide a written scope and receipt for every job, which covers the documentation most landlords need. Call (331) 310-8471 with questions.
Yes, we schedule complex-wide rekeys across Davis in July and early August, ahead of the UC Davis move-in wave. We provide a single written quote per building, assign a dedicated crew, and leave a photo record for every unit. Call (331) 310-8471 to book your building’s slot.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local locksmith pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Davis Customers Say
"Fast, polite, and carried identification without being asked. Would use again."
- Grant W."Locked out at eleven at night. A person answered, gave me a time and a name, and both were right."
- Franklin D."Quoted forty-five on the phone, paid forty-five at the door. I had been burned by a company that quoted nineteen and then wanted three hundred."
- Theresa Q.