How often should you rekey or change your locks?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Is there a set schedule for rekeying locks?

No. None of the consumer agencies, police departments or trade association pages read for this guide gives a fixed interval for rekeying or replacing household locks. What they give instead is a list of events. Rekeying or changing locks is tied to a change in who might have a key, and maintenance is tied to how the lock is behaving, not to the calendar.

Which events should prompt a rekey?

• Moving in. Every source quoted here agrees on this one. ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, says rekeying should take place as soon as possible after you take possession of a home, because it is rare for all keys to be turned over. The King County Sheriff's Office in Washington State says to rekey or change all locks when moving into a new home. Lower Moreland Township police in Montgomery County say to change the locks whenever you move into a new home or apartment, and Northampton Township police in Bucks County give the same advice.
• Moving into a brand-new house. ALOA says new houses in developments often have construction keying set up for the builder, which it calls a security risk after the owner moves in, so the first owner should rekey too.
• Lost or unaccounted-for keys. No source read sets a rule, but the reasoning that applies to a move applies to any key you can no longer account for.
• A spare hidden outside. Police in King County and Lower Moreland both say not to hide a key outside at all. If one has been under a mat or in a planter for years, the people who could have found it are unknown.
• After a break-in or an attempt. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that damaging or removing a door was the most common way in for forcible burglaries in its 2003 to 2007 survey data. After any attempt, have the door, frame and strike plate looked at as well as the lock, and rekey if keys were taken.

When you rekey, ALOA suggests including the garage locks and any storage buildings, not only the front and back doors.

How often do locks need maintenance?

Occasionally, and when they start to stick. ALOA says that like most mechanisms, locks need occasional maintenance, and suggests a very short burst of penetrating oil in the keyway, latch and hinges when a lock gets stiff. It says locks and keys both wear with use, the latch especially, so a heavily used door will need attention sooner than one that is rarely opened. If lubrication does not cure a sticking lock, ALOA says the lock may need rekeying, a new latch or replacing, which is a job to book rather than to keep putting off.

Does the time of year matter?

For how a lock behaves, yes. ALOA says humidity, temperature and direct sunlight can affect how a door and lock work, and that a door that works at some times of day but not others may need a service visit timed to when the problem appears.

For safety checks, there is a schedule. The National Fire Protection Association advises practicing your home fire escape plan twice a year and, when you walk through it, checking that doors and windows can be opened easily. That is a natural moment to test every exterior lock from the inside.

Before a trip, police in some townships offer help. Radnor Township police in Delaware County run a Vacant House Watch in which an officer checks the outside of a registered home daily while you are away.

How often should a smart lock be updated?

Regularly. The Federal Trade Commission advises checking for firmware updates on connected devices, sometimes on the manufacturer's website, and using the latest version of the device's app. It also suggests disconnecting older devices you no longer use, because their security may be out of date.

What about car keys?

ALOA lists wanting spare keys to avoid an "all keys lost" situation as a reason to call a locksmith, alongside losing every key. Getting a spare made while you still have a working key is the timing that avoids the more expensive job. ALOA says a dead battery is the most frequent reason a fob stops working, so a fob that grows unreliable is a sign to change its battery.

When is the best time to book?

When it is not an emergency. Every cost survey prices after-hours work higher. Angi says an emergency or after-hours call adds $50 to $150 to a visit, and HomeGuide gives an emergency hourly rate of $150 to $250 against $50 to $100 in normal hours. Rekeying after a move, adding a deadbolt or fitting a smart lock can almost always wait for a weekday appointment. The cost guide has the full price comparison, the warning signs guide helps you decide whether something needs attention now, and local businesses are on the locksmiths directory page.

Sources

1. Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
2. Common Lock Issues: Advice and Info, ALOA Security Professionals Association
3. Issues With Your Auto Key Fob, ALOA Security Professionals Association
4. Doors and locks, King County Sheriff's Office
5. Prevent Burglaries with these tips from Chief Smith!, Lower Moreland Township Police Department
6. Crime Prevention, Northampton Township Police Department
7. Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home, Federal Trade Commission
8. How to make a home fire escape plan, National Fire Protection Association
9. Burglary Prevention Tips, Radnor Township Police Department
10. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
11. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeGuide
12. Victimization During Household Burglary (press release), Bureau of Justice Statistics