Utah Locksmith Services

Homes and doors across Utah

Utah's housing is young. In the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, the median Utah home was built in 1992, against 1980 for the country. About 39 percent of the state's 1.22 million homes date from 2000 or later, against about 25 percent nationally.

The four big Wasatch Front counties differ:

• Utah County, home to Provo, is newest: median 2001, with about half its homes built since 2000. About 11 percent are townhouse-style attached homes, against about 6 percent nationally.
• Davis County has a median of 1993, and about three in four of its homes are detached single-family houses, against about 61 percent nationally.
• Salt Lake County has a median of 1986, and about 9 percent of its homes are in buildings of 50 or more units, against about 7 percent nationally.
• Weber County, around Ogden, is oldest: median 1984, with about a quarter of its homes built before 1960.

In a Utah County townhouse, count every entry, including a garage door, when you rekey after moving in. Weber County's pre-1960 houses may still have original mortise locks or doors drilled more than once, so photograph the door edge before buying replacement hardware.

How Utah's climate affects locks and keys

Utah runs from about 2,500 feet in the Virgin River Valley to 13,498 feet at Kings Peak in the Uinta Mountains.

• Lake-effect snow. NOAA notes the salty Great Salt Lake does not freeze, and cold air crossing it occasionally drops heavy snow bands east and south of the lake. Meltwater that refreezes in a keyway can stop a key from turning; use lock de-icer, not hot water.
• Wide daily swings. The Western Regional Climate Center describes strong daytime sun and rapid cooling at night. A deadbolt that drags only on cold mornings often means door alignment, not a failed lock.
• Canyon winds. The same source says strong winds sometimes reach damaging levels near the canyon mouths on the Wasatch Mountains' western slopes. Check storm-door latches and strike screws after a windstorm.
• Spring dust. Dust storms occur mainly over western Utah in spring. Clean grit from a sticking keyway and use a dry lubricant; oil holds dust.
• Southern heat. NOAA notes lower elevations in the south frequently pass 100°F in summer. Heat is hard on the coin cells in fobs and smart locks, so keep spare fobs out of parked cars.

Renting in Utah: locks, keys and rekeying

The Utah Fit Premises Act, Title 57, Chapter 22 of the Utah Code, sets owner duties for residential rentals.

• Between renters. Section 57-22-4 bars renting premises unless they are safe, sanitary and fit for human occupancy, but it does not mention locks or require rekeying between renters. Ask whether the locks were changed since the last renter.
• Entry. Unless the rental agreement says otherwise, the same section requires the owner to give at least 24 hours' notice before entering.
• New locks for crime victims. Under Section 57-22-5.1, a renter who is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, a sexual offense covered by the section, or burglary can require the owner to install a new lock. The renter provides a protective order issued after a hearing or a copy of a police report, and pays for the installation. The owner may rekey a lock in good working condition or replace it with one of equal or greater quality, may keep a key, and must refuse a key to the perpetrator.
• Lockouts. Section 78B-6-814 makes it unlawful for an owner to willfully exclude a tenant except by judicial process, with an exception for abandoned premises. Under Section 78B-6-815, a tenant who has not left must dispute an owner's declaration of abandonment in writing within 24 hours, not counting weekends or court holidays.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Where we take requests in Utah

About three in four Utahns live in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis and Weber counties. Utah Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Utah.

• Salt Lake City
• West Valley City
• Provo
• Ogden

Elsewhere in Utah, use the request form and include your ZIP code, or see service areas.

Before you book a locksmith in Utah

Utah's Division of Consumer Protection takes complaints online and says one may lead to an investigation and possible legal action. For services, its categories include work different from what was agreed, business misrepresentation and unauthorized charges.

1. Get the job and the total in writing first. Its categories turn on what was agreed and charged.
2. Booking for a business? The Division says it generally does not have jurisdiction over purchases made by businesses or for business use, so read a commercial work order before signing.
3. Asking your landlord for a new lock as a crime victim? Bring the protective order or police report Section 57-22-5.1 names.
4. Agree on the hardware before work starts. The Division says workmanship issues are generally outside its jurisdiction.