Smart locks
House lockouts
Re-keying
Deadbolt upgrades
Schlage
Kwikset
Car keys & fobsNon-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Get your free estimateLocksmith in Inverness, CA
Rekeying is the core locksmith job in Inverness, and it works differently here than in a busier town. Most homes are older redwood cottages and weekend cabins with vintage mortise locks and weathered doors. The damp Tomales Bay air corrodes hardware, so a simple rekey often turns into a lock adjustment or replacement. If you need a locksmith in Inverness, call Citadel Locksmith at (833) 589-8078.
Why Inverness Homes Are Different
Inverness sits on a narrow strip of land between Tomales Bay and the Inverness Ridge. The roads in are winding, two-lane, and quiet. Most of the housing stock is older: redwood cottages, cabins, and remodeled weekend homes with original mortise locks that are no longer made. Many doors have shifted over decades of wet winters, which means latches no longer align and deadbolts bind.
The fog rolling off Tomales Bay is the biggest factor. It carries salt and moisture that gets into exterior lock cylinders, gate latches, and deadbolt mechanisms. We routinely open locks in Inverness that are seized with corrosion, not broken. Rekeying a lock here often starts with cleaning and lubricating the cylinder before new pins go in. If the hardware is too far gone, we recommend replacement, and we stock Schlage and Kwikset parts that fit those older Inverness doors.
Because so many Inverness homes are second properties or vacation rentals, keys circulate among family members, cleaners, contractors, and rental guests. It is common for owners to lose track of who holds a key. Rekeying is the fastest way to take back control of who holds a key. Our home service approach is built for exactly that.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Inverness Services
Inverness homeowners call us most often for two things: replacing car keys and handling lockouts or other emergency lock problems. Here is what each involves in this part of West Marin.
Car Key Replacement in Inverness
Losing a car key in Inverness is not like losing one in San Rafael. There is no dealership around the corner, and the nearest automotive locksmith is a long drive away. We come to your driveway or the shoulder of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and cut and program a replacement key on site. For most vehicles built in the last decade, that includes transponder programming. It saves you a tow and a dealership bill. See Car Key Replacement in Inverness for the full picture.
Emergency Locksmith in Inverness
Lockouts here happen at odd hours and at isolated addresses. A renter arrives at a ridge-top cottage after dark, a caretaker snaps a key in a bayfront gate, or an owner finds the deadbolt frozen after a foggy week. We respond to urgent calls, unlock doors without wrecking the hardware, and can rekey on the spot if keys are missing. Our emergency line is built into how we operate, not an afterthought. Read more on Emergency Locksmith in Inverness.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Rekey Locks in Inverness
Rekeying in Inverness means changing the pins inside your existing lock cylinders so old keys stop working and new keys take over. It is usually the right call after a rental turnover, a lost key, or a break-in scare. Given the age of most Inverness hardware, we often pair a rekey with a realignment of the door and latch so the new key works smoothly. Citadel locksmiths can rekey Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Yale cylinders, including the high-security lines most van-and-drill shops cannot service. For a deeper look at the craft, see our Rekey Locks guide.
Lock Rekey
Signs you need it
A key no longer works, you cannot account for every copy of your key, or a recent tenant or contractor kept a key, and you do not want to replace perfectly good hardware.
What it costs in Inverness
A standard lock rekey in Inverness typically runs $100 to $160 for the first cylinder, with additional cylinders on the same visit ranging from $20 to $40 each.
How we do it
We remove the cylinder, clean out corrosion from the Tomales Bay air, replace the pins so the old key no longer turns, and test the new key several times while the door is open.
Rekey Door Lock
Signs you need it
Your deadbolt turns stiffly, the key almost breaks when you force it, or the door does not close flush against the strike plate anymore.
What it costs in Inverness
Rekeying a door lock ranges from $80 to $160, with each additional lock on the same door adding $20 to $40 when we are already on site.
How we do it
We rekey the cylinder, then adjust or replace the strike plate and realign the latch so the door closes without lifting, shoving, or slamming.
Keyed Alike
Signs you need it
Your key ring has a different key for every door and you want one key to open the front door, back door, side gate, and storage shed.
What it costs in Inverness
Keying multiple cylinders alike costs $100 to $160 for the first lock plus $20 to $40 per additional cylinder, all done in one visit.
How we do it
We set each cylinder to the same pin code so one key operates all of them, then verify every lock with the same key before we leave.
What Rekey Locks Costs in Inverness
| Item | Typical range in Inverness |
|---|---|
| First cylinder rekeyed | $100 – $160 |
| Each additional cylinder | $20 – $40 |
| Lockout plus rekey (combined visit) | $170 – $270 |
How long does a rekey take in Inverness?
Most rekey jobs take 30 to 60 minutes for two or three doors. If locks have heavy corrosion from the bay air, we may need extra time to clean cylinders and adjust misaligned strike plates.
Do you rekey high-security locks like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock?
Yes. Not all locksmiths speak Medeco or Abloy – we do. We rekey high-security cylinders using the proper pins and tools, and we confirm new keys work in every lock before we leave. Call (833) 589-8078 for a firm quote.
Brands We Service in Inverness
We work with the brands serious about security. That means Schlage and Kwikset for everyday residential locks, plus Medeco and Yale for high-security cylinders and architectural hardware. We carry common pins and parts for all of them, so most Inverness rekeys happen in a single visit. Learn more on our brands page.
Pricing for Locksmith in Inverness, CA
| Service | Typical range in Inverness |
|---|---|
| Standard lock rekey (first cylinder) | $100 – $160 |
| Additional cylinder on same visit | $20 – $40 |
| Rekey door lock (single door) | $80 – $160 |
| Lockout plus rekey | $170 – $270 |
| Keyed alike (first lock + each additional) | $100 – $160 + $20 – $40 per lock |
Prices in Inverness run higher than urban Marin because of the travel distance and the condition of the hardware. Exterior locks here are often corroded or seized, which adds labor time. You get the full price on the phone before we dispatch anyone, and that price is the price on your invoice. There is no call-out surcharge added when we arrive.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Inverness
We cover all of the 94937 ZIP code, from the bayfront lanes near the Inverness Yacht Club up the ridge roads and out toward the Point Reyes National Seashore boundary. Response time varies with road conditions and the time of day, but most calls get same-day service when scheduled by early afternoon.
- Inverness downtown and bayfront
- Inverness Park
- Paradise Ranch Estates
- Inverness Ridge
- Seahaven
Service Area – Cities Near Inverness
Citadel Locksmith serves Inverness and the surrounding West Marin communities. We also take calls in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA, Woodacre, CA, and Petaluma, CA, and over the hill in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA. If you are not sure which area you are in, call (833) 589-8078 and we will tell you straight.
Serving Inverness, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Inverness area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Locksmith in Inverness
Response time depends on where you are and when you call. Homes off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or up on the ridge roads take longer than places near the village center. Call (833) 589-8078 and we will give you a straight estimate for your address.
No permit is required for rekeying or replacing residential locks in unincorporated Marin County. The work is not structural and does not trigger county building review. We handle the hardware, and if you are in an HOA, we can match existing finishes so nothing stands out.
Yes, and this is a big part of our Inverness work. Property managers call us after every turnover to rekey or rotate keys so prior guests cannot access the home. We can also key multiple rentals alike for a manager who prefers a single master key. Call (833) 589-8078 to schedule a batch rekey.
Citadel Locksmith has served Inverness since 2011. Call (833) 589-8078 for a free estimate on rekeying, car key replacement, or emergency lock work in Inverness, CA.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local locksmith pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Inverness Customers Say
"Something came loose about a month after the work. Called them, and they were back out the next day and fixed it at no charge. Didn't argue, didn't try to bill me for the trip."
— Carmen Castillo"Quoted a price on the phone and honored it. After the last locksmith I called, that alone is worth a review."
— Eduardo Vargas"Rekeyed every lock in the house the day after we closed. Six doors, all matched to one key, done in about ninety minutes."
— Beatriz Martinez