Open 24/7 · Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County

(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in North Hollywood · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in North Hollywood, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted-key systems with key control for North Hollywood properties. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so we come to your building. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your doors, your people, and who should hold which keys.

  • Mobile to your North Hollywood 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 sounds simple: one key that opens many doors, and individual keys that open only some. In practice, the value is in the planning. Who needs access to what, which doors share a level, and what happens when someone leaves are the questions that decide whether a system keeps working for years or turns into a drawer of mystery keys.

North Hollywood makes those questions concrete. A restaurant on Lankershim Boulevard may have a front door, a back-of-house door, an office, a storage room, and a panic-bar exit, with staff turnover that makes loose keys a real risk. A small apartment owner near Vineland Avenue may have a row of units, a laundry room, and a utility closet. A business in a newer transit-oriented building near the Metro station may need to blend mechanical keys with fob access.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead tech David Shar's work is fully mobile. There is no storefront to visit. We meet you at the property, look at the hardware you actually have, and build a system around it instead of selling a one-size-fits-all package.

How it works in North Hollywood

  1. 1

    Walk-through and access mapping

    We start at your property and look at every door that needs to be keyed: entries, offices, storage, utility rooms, and exit devices. We ask who needs access to what, and sketch out levels such as a grand master, department masters, and individual change keys.

  2. 2

    Hardware assessment

    Not every lock can be master keyed. Worn wafer locks common in older North Hollywood apartments, original mortise sets, and aluminum-storefront hardware each behave differently. We tell you which cylinders can be reused, which should be replaced, and where an upgrade makes sense.

  3. 3

    System design and key control choice

    We lay out the keying plan and discuss key control. A conventional system is easier to maintain, while a restricted-keyway system limits who can get copies made, which matters when staff or tenants change often.

  4. 4

    Installation and rekeying

    We install or rekey cylinders on site, test each key against each door, and confirm that higher-level keys open what they should and lower-level keys do not. Panic bars and exit devices are checked at the same time if they are part of the job.

  5. 5

    Key issuance and records

    We cut and label the keys, and help you set up a simple record of who holds what. A written key log is the easiest way to keep a system from drifting.

  6. 6

    Future changes

    When someone leaves or a door is added, we can rekey or extend the system within its original design instead of starting over.

Need master key system in North Hollywood?

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 that need to be keyed or replaced.
  • How many access levels the system needs, from a single master to several department tiers plus a grand master.
  • Whether existing hardware can be reused or has to be upgraded, such as worn wafer locks, old mortise sets, or damaged exit devices.
  • Whether you choose a restricted keyway with key control, which involves more controlled keys and paperwork.
  • Whether the job includes related work such as panic bar repair or adding higher-grade deadbolts.
  • The number of keys needed for each level and the time of day the work is requested, since we are available around the clock.

Why North Hollywood chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we do the design and installation at your property, not at a shop counter.
  • In business since 1987, which means we have worked on the full range of North Hollywood hardware, from original mortise locks to modern multipoint systems.
  • The owner, David Shar, is the lead tech, so the person planning your system understands the hardware.
  • We assess the doors before recommending anything, and tell you plainly when existing locks can stay.
  • We can handle related work in the same visit, including rekeying, exit-device repair, and deadbolt upgrades.
  • Available 24/7, so urgent problems like a lost master key can be dealt with without waiting for business hours.

Master Key System across North Hollywood

North Hollywood has an unusually varied mix of buildings, and that shapes how a master key system should be built. In the NoHo Arts District, restaurants, theaters, and small offices along Lankershim Boulevard often share staff and shift changes that make key control a daily concern. A restaurant that needs its back-of-house rekeyed after turnover is a classic case for a small master system with a restricted keyway, paired with a check of the panic bar on the exit.

Further out, in North Hollywood West and Toluca Woods, you will find 1920s to 1940s bungalows with original mortise locks, and 1960s and 70s dingbat apartments with aluminum entry doors and tired wafer locks. Landlords with several units off Vineland Avenue or Victory Boulevard often want one key for maintenance and separate keys for each tenant. Worn wafer locks may need to be replaced first, because a system is only as reliable as its weakest cylinder.

Near the North Hollywood Metro Station, newer mid-rise apartments and condos tend to use electronic fobs alongside mechanical locks, and aluminum-storefront retail runs along Magnolia Boulevard. We work throughout ZIP codes 91601, 91602, 91605, 91606, and 91607, reaching properties off US-101 and SR-170 as well as the side streets. Call (323) 997-8867 any time to schedule a visit.

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 North Hollywood locksmith services

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

Master Key System in North Hollywood — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a keying plan where each lock has its own key, and higher-level keys also open groups of locks. A manager might hold a key that opens every door, while an employee's key opens only their own area.
Can my existing North Hollywood locks be master keyed?
Often yes, but it depends on the cylinders. Many standard pin-tumbler locks can be rekeyed into a system, while worn wafer locks in older apartments or damaged hardware may need replacement. We check on site. Call (323) 997-8867 to set up a visit.
What is a restricted-key system?
It uses a protected keyway so keys cannot be copied at a typical hardware store. Copies are made only through authorized channels, which helps you keep track of who has access.
We had staff turnover at our restaurant. Do we need a whole new system?
Not always. Sometimes rekeying the back-of-house doors and issuing new keys is enough. If you want long-term control, we can build a small master system with separate levels for managers and staff.
Can you work on panic bars and exit devices too?
Yes. We can repair exit devices and rekey the related doors during the same visit, which is common for restaurants and retail along Lankershim and Magnolia.
Do you handle apartment buildings with multiple units?
Yes. We can set up unique tenant keys with a maintenance or owner master, and replace worn entry locks that would undermine the system. You can reach us at (323) 997-8867 to discuss your building.
Do you have a shop I can visit?
No. We are fully mobile and come to your property, which lets us see the actual doors and hardware before designing the system.
Can a master key system work with electronic fob access?
In many buildings, yes. Mechanical master keying can cover interior or service doors while fobs handle main entries. We look at how your current access is set up before recommending anything.
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