Locksmith Services in Jacksonville, FL

Homes and locks in Jacksonville

Riverside runs southwest of downtown along the St. Johns River. First platted in 1868, it grew after the Great Fire of 1901 sent many displaced residents there, and its bungalows are largely why Jacksonville likely has more of them than anywhere else in the state. Avondale, developed from 1920, is mostly Mediterranean Revival.

Springfield, north of downtown, saw its greatest growth from the early 1880s through the 1920s. Most houses are two-story wood-frame vernacular buildings, with some Queen Anne, Stick style, Prairie School and bungalow examples. Springfield is a locally designated historic district (see below), so changing an exterior door there can need city approval; where a lock can be rekeyed, lock rekeying retires old keys and leaves the door as it is.

On the Southbank, residential towers such as The Peninsula and The Strand stand among offices and hotels, and Brooklyn, at the far southwestern corner of downtown, now has mixed-use developments. In a tower, the lobby door, garage gate or elevator may run on a fob system the building manages, so say which door you are locked out of.

Businesses and buildings

The Northbank holds City Hall and skyscrapers such as the Bank of America Tower and Wells Fargo Center, where a suite lock and the building's card or fob access may be separate systems.

Riverside and Avondale's commercial districts include Five Points, whose 1928 Park Arcade Building set its architectural tone; the King Street District, known for craft breweries and bars; and the Shoppes of Avondale at St. Johns and Ingleside Avenues. Springfield's commercial strips run along Main and Eighth Streets. For older storefront and office doors, see commercial locksmith.

Car trouble in Jacksonville

The city's Office of Public Parking lists hours of 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, for its Water Street, Ed Ball and Yates garages downtown, and Monday through Saturday for the Duval Street garage. If keys are locked in a car in one of these garages late in the day, name the garage and level.

The sports and entertainment district on East Bay Street holds EverBank Stadium, VyStar Ballpark and Veterans Memorial Arena, and the city garages also sell event parking. For a car lockout on an event day, give the lot or garage name and nearest entrance.

Local rules worth knowing

Jacksonville's historic preservation rules are in Ordinance Code Chapter 307; Section 307.106 covers Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) procedures and criteria. The Springfield Historic District is both on the National Register and locally designated. Most of Ortega is on the National Register only, which the city calls honorary: it does not regulate changes. The city's Land Development Map shows, by address or real estate number, whether a property is in a historic district or is a landmark.

The city's FAQ says historic district properties and local landmarks need a COA for exterior work, and for interior work that changes windows or exterior doors, before work begins. Staff COAs can take a week or two; Historic Preservation Commission review takes at least a month. Work started without a COA may receive a violation. Rekeying works inside the existing lock; replacing an exterior door is the kind of change to check first. This is general information, not legal advice.

Requesting service in Jacksonville

Florida Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Jacksonville. Include the neighborhood or cross streets, which side of the river you are on, the building type and how the lobby or garage is entered. Related pages: house lockout, lock replacement and Florida.