At JL Security Solutions, Calgary business owners often ask us how often they should change their locks, and the honest answer surprises them: it is driven by events, not a calendar. You change your locks when something happens that puts key control at risk. Knowing those triggers is far more useful than any fixed schedule, because an uncontrolled key is a security gap no matter how new the lock is. This guide walks through when a business should change its locks and why.
Why Changing Your Locks Is About Events, Not Time
A lock does not expire like a carton of milk. A well-made commercial lock can function for many years. The reason to change your locks is rarely the age of the hardware and almost always a change in who might hold a working key.
That shift in thinking matters. Instead of asking how old your locks are, ask who could open your door right now. Former staff, old contractors and anyone who copied a key over the years may all still have access you never authorised.
Seen this way, changing locks becomes a response to specific moments. Each of the triggers below is a point where your key control may have been compromised, and therefore a point to act. Thinking in triggers rather than dates also means you never pay for work you do not need, while never leaving a genuine gap unaddressed.
Staff Turnover Is the Biggest Trigger
Employee departures are the most common reason to change your locks. When a key-holding staff member leaves, there is no guarantee every key and copy comes back. A trusted manager with broad access is an especially important case, since their key may open far more than a single door. The more a departing person could access, the more urgent it is to act, and the less comfortable it is to simply hope the key comes back.
You do not always need new hardware here. A rekey disables the old keys and issues new ones, restoring control quickly and without replacing sound locks. For businesses with regular turnover, a restricted-key system reduces the problem by preventing unauthorised copying in the first place, so each departure becomes a quick credential change rather than a recurring expense.
Crime-prevention guidance from bodies such as the RCMP consistently highlights access control as a foundation of business security. If staff changes have you unsure who holds keys, a commercial locksmith visit restores that control fast.
Moving Into New Premises
Taking over a new business space is a clear moment to change your locks. You simply cannot know how many keys exist from the previous tenant, their employees, cleaners and contractors. Any of them could still open your new door.
Make it a day-one priority. Changing or rekeying every external lock before you move your equipment and stock in ensures that you, and only you, control access from the start. It is a small step that closes a potentially wide-open gap.
Other Moments to Change Your Locks
Beyond turnover and moving, several other events should prompt action. Each represents a loss of control or a weakness that needs addressing before it is exploited.
- A key is lost or stolen, especially a master key.
- You suspect keys have been copied without permission.
- Your business has suffered a break-in or attempted entry.
- Locks are worn, sticking or no longer closing securely.
- You are tightening security after a security review.
A lost master key is particularly urgent, since it may open many doors at once. And if a lock is physically failing, that is both a security and a reliability reason to act without delay.
Rekey or Replace When the Time Comes
Once you have a trigger, the next question is whether to rekey or fully replace. Rekeying suits sound hardware where you just need old keys disabled. Replacement suits worn, damaged or outdated locks, or when you want to upgrade security.
| Trigger | Typical action | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Employee departs | Rekey affected doors | High for managers |
| Moving premises | Rekey or replace all | Day one |
| Lost master key | Rekey or replace | Immediate |
| After a break-in | Replace compromised locks | Immediate |
| Worn hardware | Replace | Plan soon |
We assess each situation and recommend the lighter or heavier option as appropriate. You can explore long-term key control through a master key solution that keeps future changes simple.
Build a Simple Key-Control Habit
Changing your locks solves today’s problem, but a little ongoing discipline prevents tomorrow’s. Keeping a written record of who holds which key turns a vague worry into a clear picture you can act on. When someone leaves, you know exactly what to collect or disable.
A key-control log need not be complicated. Record each key issued, to whom, and when it is returned. Review it whenever staff change or at regular intervals. This simple habit means you rarely face the uncertainty that forces a full rekey in the first place, and it makes any future lock work faster because you already know exactly which doors and keys are involved.
For businesses that find keys multiplying beyond control, a restricted-key system removes the root cause by preventing unauthorised copying. Pairing good record-keeping with the right hardware is the most reliable way to stay in control of who can enter your premises. It turns lock security from a series of emergencies into a simple, managed routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a business change its locks?
There is no fixed schedule. You change your locks in response to events rather than the calendar: staff departures, lost keys, a break-in, moving into new premises, or years of uncontrolled key copying. Each is a trigger to change your locks or rekey them.
Should I change the locks when an employee leaves?
For a key-holding employee, yes, especially a manager or anyone with broad access. A departing employee may still hold working keys or copies. Rekeying or changing the locks promptly removes that risk and restores control over who can enter.
What should I do about locks when moving into a new business space?
Treat it as a priority on day one. You cannot know how many keys the previous tenant, their staff and contractors still hold. Changing or rekeying every lock before you move in ensures you alone control access to the new premises.
Is rekeying enough, or must I fully replace the locks?
Rekeying is usually enough when the hardware is sound and you only need old keys disabled. Full replacement is for worn, damaged or outdated locks, or when upgrading security. Either way, the goal is the same, to control who can open your doors.
Protect Access with JL Security Solutions
If any of these triggers apply to your Calgary business, it is time to change your locks or rekey them. JL Security Solutions can help you restore control quickly. Call (403) 671-6091 or email sales@jlsecuritysolutions.ca for an honest quote after assessment. See everything we offer on our services page.