If it's urgent

What to tell us

Urgent lockout and lock help for homes, vehicles, and businesses, starting with a clear conversation about what is possible.

Your exact location and a phone number where you can be reached
A short description of what happened
Photo ID and proof of residence, ownership, or authorization, or tell us if they are locked inside

If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.

Emergency Locksmith in Washington

Vancouver notes

Updated September 23, 20263 sources

What can't wait

an exterior door that will not lock or latch after a break-in or forced entry
a shared door in a duplex or triplex, as in Fourth Plain Village, that no longer latches
a lockout that leaves someone outside who is ill, elderly or caring for a small child
keys lost or stolen along with something that shows your address
a lock change tied to a protection order or court order, described below

Safety before locks

If anyone is in danger, or a child or pet is shut in a car, call 911. After a break-in, call police first, and wait outside if someone could still be in the house. Leave a forced door and lock as they are until police have seen them, and photograph the damage.

In a Hudson's Bay apartment building, say whether the unit door or the building entry was forced.

Lock changes under state law

Two sections of Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act deal with urgent lock changes for tenants:

Harassment by a landlord. RCW 59.18.575(4) lets a tenant change or add locks, at the tenant's expense, when the tenant or a household member is a victim of sexual assault, stalking or unlawful harassment by a landlord. Within seven days the tenant must deliver written notice with a copy of a valid order for protection or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party. Common-area locks may not be changed.
Excluding a cotenant. Under RCW 59.18.585, a tenant whose court order grants possession to the exclusion of a cotenant may ask, at the tenant's expense, for a lock to be replaced or rekeyed. Once given a copy of the order, the landlord must comply and may not give new keys to the excluded tenant.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Details that help

your neighborhood and nearest cross streets
what happened: lockout, broken lock, forced door or lost keys
which door and lock, with a photo if you can take one safely
whether police have been called, and the report number
for a rental lock change under these statutes, whether the landlord has the notice or order

See emergency locksmith for the service, house lockout for lockouts and Vancouver for the city.

Sources

Public records and references this page draws on. They are outside USA Locksmith Pros and open in a new tab.

Emergency Locksmith in Vancouver, WA