Lock Replacement in Houston, TX

Old doors and new hardware

Replacing a lock means removing the whole lockset or deadbolt and fitting new hardware, often with a new strike plate. The door sets the limits. Doors on recent houses are usually bored for current deadbolt sizes, while older doors may be drilled for sizes that are no longer common, so measure the bore, the backset and the door thickness before buying anything.

Houston spans that whole range. Old Sixth Ward's older houses, from 1854 to 1935, include Folk Victorian and Queen Anne designs, while Glenbrook Valley's 1,256 houses, mostly ranch houses, went up between 1953 and 1962. On an original door, a lock chosen to fit the existing holes avoids cutting wood that cannot be put back.

Historic districts and visible hardware

As of January 2026 Houston counted 23 city historic districts, a roster that includes the Heights, Norhill, Germantown, Starkweather, Lyons Avenue and Old Sixth Ward. Glenbrook Valley, designated in June 2011, was the first Texas historic district of structures built after World War II, so even a 1950s ranch house can come under review.

Chapter 33, Article VII of the Houston Code of Ordinances governs these districts. City guidance requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for projects that change a designated property's exterior appearance, and the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission applies the criteria in Sec. 33-241. Ordinary maintenance and repair is exempt, but the exemption does not cover replacing historic material. Before swapping visible hardware on a contributing house, check with the city's preservation staff. If the aim is only to retire old keys, rekeying leaves the exterior as it is.

Deadbolt placement in rentals

For rented homes, section 92.154 of the Texas Property Code says a required deadbolt installed on or after September 1, 1993 must sit 36 to 48 inches from the floor with a throw of at least one inch. A new deadbolt on a rental door should meet those numbers. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

• photos of the lock face, the door edge and the strike on the frame
• the door thickness and backset, if you can measure them
• whether the house is in a historic district
• your role: owner, or tenant with the landlord's permission

For the service itself, see lock replacement; for the city, see Houston.