Lock Rekeying in Rockville, MD

Why keys change hands so often here

Rekeying resets the pins inside a lock cylinder so the old keys stop working and a new key turns it. The lock body, handle and door stay put. Census Bureau estimates for 2024 count 45.1 percent of Rockville households as renters, against about 32 percent statewide, so keys pass between people at every move-out, sale and change of manager.

• New owners. After closing, every exterior lock is worth rekeying, since sellers, cleaners, contractors and neighbors may still hold copies.
• Landlords between tenants. A returned key set shows nothing about how many copies were cut during the lease.
• Condominium and townhouse owners. Rekey the doors you control, and ask the association or manager about shared entrances.

Rental rules in the city

Chapter 18 of the Rockville City Code, Rental Facilities and Landlord-Tenant Relations, governs rentals in the city. The city's rental-property requirements reach single-family rentals too: detached houses, townhomes and condominiums that are rented out, not only apartment complexes.

On July 6, 2026, the Mayor and Council adopted a revised Chapter 18 that takes effect January 1, 2027 and creates a repair-and-deduct option for tenants. Whether a particular lock problem would qualify depends on the adopted text, so read it before relying on it. Tenants should also check the lease and ask the landlord before changing any cylinder. This is general information, not legal advice.

Keying townhouse doors alike

A Twinbrook townhouse, such as those in the Ashleigh Woods and Rockcrest Courts communities, often has a front door, a rear or patio door and perhaps a garage entry. Those can be rekeyed so a single key opens all of them, as long as the cylinders take the same key blank. A detached house with a side door works the same way.

Listing the locks for a rekey

List each lock by door (front, rear, garage, unit), the brand name stamped on the key or lock face, and how many new keys you want. Give the neighborhood and nearest cross streets. A cylinder that is worn, loose or sticking may be better handled by lock replacement. For how a rekey works in general, see lock rekeying.