Locksmith Services in Pittsburgh, PA

Older doors on the South Side

The South Side Flats has one of the city's largest concentrations of 19th-century homes. On a house that old, the front door may be original or refitted more than once, which can leave an old mortise lock, a worn strike plate or a door that no longer lines up with its frame.

Historic districts: check before changing a front door

The city lists 16 locally designated historic districts, including Allegheny West, Deutschtown, Manchester, the Mexican War Streets, Schenley Farms and Roslyn Place. Under the Historic Preservation Ordinance (Pittsburgh Code Chapter 1101), exterior alterations in these districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness. The Historic Review Commission issues it, though staff can approve some routine projects over the counter.

The commission's Mexican War Streets guidelines show what that review looks at:

• It covers only what is visible from a public street or alley, not interiors.
• It favors keeping historic doors, steps "and all hardware." Paneled wood doors are called appropriate for houses.
• Steel doors are suggested only for minimally visible side and rear walls, and a steel door on the primary facade is not favored.
• Storm doors that are mostly glass can be used in appropriate colors; mill-finish aluminum storm doors are not favored.
• Replacements that match the existing appearance exactly can be approved by staff without a hearing.

Rekeying an existing lock doesn't change what the street sees; a new front door, security door or street-side hardware does.

Storefronts in historic districts

East Carson Street, the main street of the South Side Flats, is on the National Register as the East Carson Street Historic District and is also a local district, as are Market Square and Penn Liberty.

The Mexican War Streets guidelines favor security gates inside storefront windows, painted to be inconspicuous, and disfavor exterior gates or a solid, non-commercial storefront door. In any district, read its own guidelines before planning commercial lock work that changes the front.

Snow emergency routes and a locked car

Pittsburgh Code § 531.01 lets the mayor declare a snow emergency. Once one is declared, § 531.02 bars parking on streets designated and marked as snow emergency routes under § 531.04, and a vehicle still there more than one hour after the declaration may be towed. If your keys are locked inside a car on a marked route, say so when you request a car lockout visit.

Rental units under Chapter 781

Pittsburgh Code Chapter 781 covers the Residential Housing Rental Permit Program. The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) inspects units, applying the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) through § 781.04.

PLI's draft inspection checklist, dated December 2024, asks whether exterior doors are maintained (IPMC 304.15). It also asks whether means-of-egress doors and emergency escape and rescue openings are "readily openable from the egress side without special knowledge or tools" (IPMC 702.3 and 702.4). A landlord changing locks between tenants should weigh that before choosing a deadbolt that needs a key to open from inside. Statewide rules are in landlord and tenant lock changes. This is general information, not legal advice.

Before you request service

Pennsylvania Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Pittsburgh. Mention whether the property is in a historic district, whether the front door is original wood, or whether the car is on a marked snow emergency route. For other cities, start at the Pennsylvania page.