Emergency Locksmith in Fort Collins, CO

What counts as urgent

Some lock problems can wait for a convenient day; others cannot. In Fort Collins, treat these as urgent:

• Someone at risk. A child, an older relative or a pet shut in a car or a home, or a person inside who needs medical help. Call 911 first; emergency services come before any locksmith.
• After a break-in. Call the police before touching the damaged door, frame or lock, so it can be documented. Once they are done, the door can be secured and the lock replaced or rekeyed.
• A home that will not lock. A failed deadbolt or a split door frame on an exterior door leaves the house open overnight.
• A door that will not open from inside. A jammed lock or a bolt that will not retract can trap someone in a room or a home. If anyone cannot get out, call 911 first.

Renters: a broken exterior lock is a safety issue

Under C.R.S. 38-12-505(4)(g), a lack of working locks or security devices on exterior doors and openable windows is presumed, unless rebutted, to materially interfere with a tenant's life, health or safety. C.R.S. 38-12-503(2)(b) then gives a landlord who has written notice a single day to begin remedial action, against three days for other uninhabitable conditions. Notify the landlord in writing, keep a copy, and check the lease before arranging lock work yourself.

The city has its own rental program as well. Since January 1, 2025, most rentals of 30 days or more have had to be registered every year, and a renter can request an inspection at any time. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

• Where you are: the street and cross street, plus the building and unit number for an apartment.
• What happened, what is at risk, and whether police have been called or have finished.
• The door and lock type, with photos of the damage if it is safe to take them.
• Whether you own or rent, and for a rental, whether the landlord knows.

A household locked out without any danger can start with house lockout. The Fort Collins page has local notes on rentals and parking.