Open 24/7 · Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County

(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Glendale · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System Design and Installation in Glendale, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master-key and restricted-key systems with key control for Glendale, California properties. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, coming to your building rather than a shop. For apartments, offices, or retail, call (323) 997-8867 to plan a system.

  • Mobile to your Glendale location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Large ring of master system keys with colored key caps
Open now(323) 997-8867

A master key system lets different people open different doors with the right key, while one authorized key opens many. In Glendale that need shows up constantly: a property manager takes over an apartment building and has no idea how many old keys are floating around, an office on Brand Boulevard wants staff, cleaners, and management on separate access levels, or a downtown retail owner wants one key for the owner and another for each shift lead.

A good system is designed before any lock is touched. We look at who needs access to what, how many levels of hierarchy make sense, and how keys will be tracked. A poorly planned system gets messy fast, with too many people holding keys that open too much. A well-planned one makes it simple to answer the question: who can get through this door?

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are mobile only, so there is no storefront to visit. We work at your property, usually without disrupting tenants or business hours more than necessary, and we are available around the clock when a situation cannot wait.

How it works in Glendale

  1. 1

    Walk the property and map the doors

    We come to your building and list every door that needs a lock: unit entries, mechanical rooms, storage, offices, gates, and common areas. We note the existing hardware, its condition, and whether it can accept a master-key configuration.

  2. 2

    Design the key hierarchy

    Together we decide who needs what: a grand master for ownership or management, masters for floors or departments, and individual change keys for single doors or units. We keep the structure as simple as the property allows.

  3. 3

    Choose the right cylinders and key control level

    We recommend cylinders and keyways that match your risk. A standard system is fine for many properties, while a restricted keyway with controlled key duplication suits buildings where unauthorized copies are a real concern.

  4. 4

    Install and rekey on site

    We pin or install the cylinders at your property, test each key against every door it should and should not open, and make adjustments on the spot. Older hardware that cannot be converted is flagged before work begins.

  5. 5

    Cut, label, and hand over keys

    Keys are cut and organized by level, and we help you set up a simple log of who holds which key. Records help when staff change, and a clean handover means no mystery keys remain in circulation.

  6. 6

    Plan for growth and changes

    Buildings change. We leave room in the system for added doors or new tenants, and we can come back to rekey individual cylinders or expand the system without starting over.

Need master key system in Glendale?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • The number of doors and cylinders in the system, since each one must be installed or rekeyed and tested.
  • How many levels the hierarchy needs: a simple master and change keys is quite different from a multi-level grand master design.
  • Whether you choose standard keyways or a restricted keyway with key control, which affects cylinder type and duplication rules.
  • The condition and type of existing hardware, such as wafer entry locks, older mortise sets, or commercial cylinders that may or may not convert.
  • How many keys you need cut and how they are organized or stamped for each level.
  • Timing and access, including after-hours work and whether the job must be done around tenants or business operations.

Why Glendale chooses us

  • Mobile only: we do the design walk-through and the installation at your property, so you never have to bring hardware anywhere.
  • Operating since 1987 under owner David Shar, so system design draws on decades of real commercial and residential building experience.
  • We design for the building you have, including older Glendale apartment stock and mixed hardware, rather than pushing a one-size package.
  • We test every key against every door it should and should not open before we leave.
  • We are honest when existing hardware is not a good candidate for conversion and suggest a practical alternative.
  • 24/7 availability for urgent situations, such as a property changing hands or a key going missing.

Master Key System across Glendale

Glendale has a wide range of buildings that benefit from key control. Large 1960s through 1980s apartment and condo buildings, common across the city with its high share of renters, often have years of accumulated keys and wafer-style entry locks. When a property manager changes, a fresh master-key system is often the cleanest way to reset who has access, especially for a building near downtown with twenty or more units.

Along Brand Boulevard, high-rise condos and offices often combine fob access control with mechanical locks on utility rooms, storage, and suites, and the mechanical side still needs organized keying. Downtown retail with aluminum storefronts around The Americana at Brand and the Glendale Galleria area has its own needs, such as separate keys for owners, managers, and stock rooms. We also work in older neighborhoods like Rossmoyne and Adams Hill, where 1920s Spanish and Mediterranean Revival homes and small multi-unit properties may have original mortise hardware that can be serviced and keyed alike, and in Verdugo Woodlands, where hillside homes and guest structures often benefit from a single key for several doors.

We serve Glendale ZIP codes including 91201, 91203, and 91205, and the rest of the city, reaching properties from Colorado Street to Glenoaks Boulevard and off SR-134, SR-2, and I-5. Call (323) 997-8867 any time to talk through your building.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Glendale locksmith services

See all of our Glendale services, or our citywide master key system page.

Master Key System in Glendale — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a lock and key arrangement where each lock has its own key, but higher-level keys can open multiple locks. A property manager might hold a master that opens every unit while each tenant's key opens only theirs.
Can you set up a master key system for an apartment building in Glendale?
Yes. Buildings with many units, such as older apartment complexes near downtown, are a common job. We rekey the units, set the hierarchy, and organize the keys. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your building.
What is a restricted key system?
A restricted system uses a keyway whose blanks are not freely sold, so keys cannot be copied at a typical hardware store. It adds key control, which helps when you need to limit who can duplicate keys.
Can my existing locks be converted to a master key system?
Often yes, but it depends on the hardware. Some commercial cylinders convert easily, while certain wafer or older locks may need replacement. We check on site and tell you honestly before work starts.
Do you work on older mortise locks in places like Rossmoyne?
Yes. We can service original mortise hardware, key several locks alike, and add a modern deadbolt where appropriate, while keeping the character of the home.
We just changed property managers. Should we rekey everything?
Usually it is a good idea, since you cannot know who still holds old keys. A fresh master key system gives the new manager a clean start. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can plan it.
Can you help if I am locked out of a fob entry on Brand Boulevard?
We can often help with mechanical entry and a rekey of the mechanical lock, but electronic fob systems depend on the building's access control. We are mobile and 24/7, so call (323) 997-8867 to discuss the situation.
Do I need to bring anything to a shop?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile with no storefront. We do the walk-through, installation, testing, and key cutting at your property.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7