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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in West Hollywood · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in West Hollywood, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted key systems with key control for West Hollywood apartment buildings, condos, offices and businesses. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, and we come to your property. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your building.

  • Mobile to your West Hollywood location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
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A master key system lets one key open many doors while each tenant, employee or department still has a key that opens only their own. In West Hollywood, where so much of the housing is multi-unit, that matters. A courtyard building off Fountain Ave, a condo tower on the Sunset Strip, or a small office near the Design District all have the same problem: too many keys, too little record of who holds which one.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner David Shar and our technicians work from a fully mobile setup. There is no storefront to visit. We come to your building, look at the doors and hardware you actually have, and design a system around them rather than selling a one-size-fits-all package.

A good master key system is as much about control as convenience. We help you decide who gets which level of access, how keys are tracked, and how to handle the day a resident manager leaves, a tenant moves out, or a key goes missing. Done well, that day becomes a routine rekey instead of a security scare.

How it works in West Hollywood

  1. 1

    Walk the property and list the doors

    We start on site. We note every door that needs to be keyed: unit entries, common doors, gates, mailrooms, storage, roof access, utility rooms and offices. We also look at the condition and brand of existing hardware, which is especially important in 1920s and 1930s Spanish and Art Deco buildings where original locks may still be in use.

  2. 2

    Map out the access hierarchy

    Next we talk through who needs access to what. A typical structure has individual unit keys, a building or floor master, and a grand master for management or emergency access. We explain the tradeoffs, since every added level of master keying adds some complexity and some security considerations.

  3. 3

    Choose key control and hardware

    We recommend a keyway and level of key control suited to your building. A restricted keyway makes it harder for anyone to copy keys at a hardware store, which helps when a building has frequent tenant turnover. We also tell you honestly which existing locks can be reused and which are too worn to be worth keying into the system.

  4. 4

    Pin, rekey and install

    We rekey or replace the cylinders and pin them to the agreed design on site. Each lock is tested with its own key, the relevant master keys and a key that should not work, so the system is verified before we leave.

  5. 5

    Document the system

    We provide a clear key schedule showing which keys open which doors, so the owner or manager has a record. Without documentation, a master key system becomes difficult to maintain and to expand later.

  6. 6

    Plan for growth and turnover

    Buildings change. We explain how to add doors, rekey a single unit between tenants, or reissue keys after a manager change without redoing the whole system, and we are available 24/7 if something urgent comes up.

Need master key system in West Hollywood?

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What affects the price

  • The number of doors and cylinders that need to be keyed into the system.
  • How many levels of master keying you want, such as unit, floor, building and grand master.
  • Whether existing locks can be rekeyed or need to be replaced because of age or wear.
  • The type of key control, including whether you want a restricted keyway with limited duplication.
  • The number of keys to be cut and issued for each level of access.
  • Hardware types involved, such as deadbolts, mortise locks, gate locks or electronic components, and whether the work happens after hours.

Why West Hollywood chooses us

  • Fully mobile and available 24/7, so work can be scheduled around tenants, business hours or an urgent situation.
  • Operating since 1987, with experience in the older multi-unit buildings that make up much of West Hollywood.
  • We evaluate your existing hardware first and tell you what can be kept, rather than defaulting to replacing everything.
  • We document the system with a key schedule so that you, not just us, know how your building is keyed.
  • We explain the security tradeoffs of master keying plainly, including when a simpler setup may serve you better.
  • No storefront overhead or pushy upselling, because we come to you and work from the facts of your property.

Master Key System across West Hollywood

West Hollywood is dense, and nearly every block has a building that could benefit from better key control. Courtyard apartments from the 1920s and 1930s, such as those off Fountain Ave, often have original hardware and a long history of keys passed between managers and tenants. After a resident-manager change, a master-key rekey can reset access without replacing every lock. Along Santa Monica Blvd in Boystown, rent-controlled units frequently need to be rekeyed between tenants, and we can match the building's existing hardware so the system stays consistent.

High-rise condos along the Sunset Strip near the Whisky a Go Go and The Roxy bring a different set of needs: HOA rules, intercom and buzzer entry, and a mix of mechanical and electronic locks. A dead smart-lock battery on a unit door is a reminder that mechanical backup and clear key records matter. Office and retail spaces around the Pacific Design Center, the Avenues and Design District on Melrose Ave, and businesses near Book Soup can also benefit from a master system with restricted keys for staff, vendors and management.

We serve all of West Hollywood, including Norma Triangle, West Hollywood West and ZIP codes such as 90069, 90046, 90048 and 90038, and we reach properties off Sunset Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, La Cienega Blvd, Fairfax Ave and Doheny Dr. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will talk through your building.

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Other West Hollywood locksmith services

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

Master Key System in West Hollywood — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a keying design where each lock has its own key, and higher-level master keys open groups of locks. For example, a tenant key opens one apartment, while a manager key opens all of them. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss a design for your building.
Can you convert my existing locks to a master key system?
Often yes. Many quality cylinders can be rekeyed into a system. Very old or worn locks, which are common in 1920s and 1930s buildings, may need replacing. We check on site and tell you which is which.
What is a restricted key system?
A restricted system uses a keyway that is controlled, so key duplication is limited to authorized people rather than any hardware store. It is a strong choice for buildings with frequent turnover or for businesses that want tighter key control.
We just changed resident managers. Do we need to rekey?
If the previous manager had a master or building keys, rekeying is the safest approach. A master-key rekey resets access without necessarily replacing hardware. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can plan it around your building.
Can you rekey a rent-controlled unit between tenants and match the building?
Yes. We can rekey the unit so it fits the building's existing hardware and, where applicable, its master system. That keeps turnover simple and avoids a mismatched lock in an otherwise consistent building.
Does a master key system make a building less secure?
Adding master levels adds some complexity, so it should be designed carefully. With good key control and documentation, a master system can be very secure and much easier to manage than a pile of unrelated keys.
Do you work with condo HOAs and property managers?
Yes. We work with owners, managers and boards. We provide a documented key schedule so decisions about who holds which keys are clear and can be reviewed later.
Do I have to come to a shop?
No. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so we come to your West Hollywood property. There is no storefront to visit. Call (323) 997-8867 to get started.
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