House Lockout in Tucson, AZ

Start with the door

Of Tucson's roughly 251,000 homes in the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates, 66,960, more than a quarter, are in buildings of five or more units, and 21,696 of those are in buildings of 50 units or more. Name the door that will not open.

• Apartment buildings. The street gate, the lobby, the hallway and the unit door are each a separate barrier, so name the one that stopped you.
• Adobe rowhouses. The city-hosted neighborhood guide puts Barrio Santa Rosa's historic buildings at about two-thirds flat-roofed Sonoran adobe, typically rowhouses built up to the street. Mention any back or side entrance too.
• Ranch houses. The guide describes post-war ranch houses with sliding glass doors opening onto outdoor living areas and a carport or garage beneath the main roof. Front door, carport door and patio door may each have their own lock.

Waiting in Tucson heat

July's average low in Tucson is 76.3°F, so the evening brings little relief after a summer day. The Weather Service notes that many heat deaths come during the monsoon, when heat combines with humidity. Find shade in a shop or on a neighbor's porch, and carry water. Call 911 first if someone inside cannot reach the door, such as a toddler or an adult who depends on care. Anyone outside who feels faint or sick from the heat should call too.

Excluded by a landlord

A.R.S. 33-1367 covers a tenant unlawfully removed or excluded from the premises by the landlord: the tenant may recover possession or end the tenancy. Either way, the recovery cannot exceed two months' periodic rent or twice the tenant's actual damages, whichever is greater. The statute speaks of excluding a tenant and never uses the word locks. Tucson's Landlord Tenant Resources page points to Southern Arizona Legal Aid among other tenant services. This summary is general information and not legal advice.

Details that help

• proof that you live there: an ID showing this address, a lease or a utility bill in your name
• the home type and the door: unit, gate, lobby, front, carport or patio
• the kind of lock, if you can tell: knob, deadbolt, keypad or slider latch
• whether the keys are inside, lost or in someone else's hands
• for a rental, whether the landlord or property manager has heard about it yet

Lost keys are a reason to consider lock rekeying afterward, which cancels the missing copy's access. For the neighborhoods themselves, see the Tucson page.