Apartment Lock Change for Las Vegas Property Managers

A new tenant is moving in tomorrow and the old tenant had a key. That is the whole reason apartment lock changes exist. For a landlord or manager, doing it right means fast turnover, a clear record of every key and no surprises with the law.

This guide goes past our commercial locksmith page. It covers rekey versus replace for rentals, how to run key control across many units, and what Nevada's landlord and tenant law, NRS 118A, actually says about locks, keys, entry and lockouts.

The short version

Here are the points that matter most.

• Rekey between tenantsRekeying makes the old keys stop working while the hardware stays. It is usually the fastest turnover fix.
• Nevada has a key law for big complexesNRS 118A.332, added in 2025, makes landlords of larger complexes keep written key policies and a key log.
• Lock out is a legal riskNRS 118A.090 defines exclude to include locking doors, and NRS 118A.390 gives a tenant remedies if a landlord excludes them unlawfully.
• A working door lock is essentialNRS 118A.380 lists a functioning door lock among the essential items a landlord must supply.
• Entry rules applyExcept in an emergency, NRS 118A.330 requires at least 24 hours notice to enter a unit.
• A tenant who is a victim of abuse can ask for a new lockNRS 118A.345 describes how, and who pays.

What you can check before you call

Walk the unit before the new resident arrives. Count the keys you hold and the keys the tenant returned. Check each lock for wear, a loose handle or a sticking key.

Write down the lock brand, since a rekey is easier on locks that are all the same make. Note which units use a deadbolt, a knob, a smart lock or a keypad, and whether any have been replaced by tenants in the past.

Check your lease and your key log. If you do not have a key log, start one now. NRS 118A.332 requires one at larger complexes, and a log is good practice anywhere.

What NRS 118A says about locks and keys

Nevada's landlord and tenant law for dwellings is NRS chapter 118A. We read the full chapter on Oct 28 2026. The words lock and key appear in only four sections. This is what each one says in plain words, and the page is worth reading yourself.

NRS 118A.090 defines exclude to include evicting or prohibiting entry by locking doors or blocking entry, or making a unit uninhabitable by cutting off essential services. NRS 118A.390 says a tenant who is unlawfully excluded may recover possession, proceed under NRS 118A.380, or end the rental agreement. The tenant can also recover actual damages, an amount of up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. The tenant has 5 judicial days to file a complaint for expedited relief, and the court must hold a hearing within 3 judicial days after it is filed.

NRS 118A.380 lists a functioning door lock among the essential items a landlord may be required to supply. If a landlord fails to supply one and the unit becomes unfit, the tenant gives written notice, and if the landlord does not fix it within 48 hours, excluding a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the tenant has remedies.

The key policy law for larger complexes

NRS 118A.332 was added to the chapter in 2025. It applies to a covered premises, which means more than 50 dwelling units on one parcel in a county of 100,000 people or more, or more than 30 units in a smaller county. It covers landlords, but not financial institutions, real estate brokers or salespersons.

A landlord of a covered premises must set a policy that requires a criminal background check for any job applicant whose position entails access to a dwelling unit key. The landlord must also have written policies on the storage, issuance, return and security of dwelling unit keys, and, if applicable, on using and deactivating them.

The landlord must keep a log on the premises that accounts for the issuance and return of each dwelling unit key. A dwelling unit key means any physical or electronic mechanism used to get into a unit, including a combination or access code. A person aggrieved by a violation, or a district attorney, may sue for relief that includes damages and attorney fees.

In practice this makes key control a legal matter for big complexes. A rekey after every move out, a labeled key cabinet and a signed key log are the simple tools. Our master key systems page shows how a hierarchy limits who can open what.

Entry, lockouts and changing a lock on a tenant

NRS 118A.330 lets a landlord enter without consent in an emergency. Otherwise the landlord gives at least 24 hours notice and enters at reasonable times during normal business hours, unless the tenant agrees to something else. The landlord has no other right of access except under a court order, when the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the premises, or where NRS 118A.440 allows it.

This matters when you change a lock. Rekeying a unit that is occupied is a lockout risk if the tenant does not get a key. The safe path is to change locks between tenants, when the unit is empty, and to keep a signed record of who received each new key. If a unit needs a lock change during a tenancy, give the tenant notice and a key at the same time.

We found no section in NRS 118A that tells a landlord to rekey between tenants. The word rekey appears once, in the section on tenants who are victims of abuse. Rekeying between tenants is a safety practice, not a statutory step, so your lease and your insurer's terms are what matter.

A tenant who needs a new lock after abuse

NRS 118A.345 lets a tenant end a lease early after domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, with written notice and papers described in the section. After the tenant gives that notice, subsection 8 says the tenant, a cotenant or a household member may require the landlord to install a new lock if they pay for it.

The landlord meets the duty by rekeying the lock if it works, or by replacing the whole lock with one of equal or superior quality. The landlord may keep a copy of the new key, but must refuse to give a key to the adverse party. This is one of the few times the statute tells a landlord exactly how to handle a lock, so act on a request quickly.

Rekey, replace or go smart

Which option fits depends on how many units you run.

The Las Vegas angle

The valley has large apartment communities and many HOAs, and most have a manager and a maintenance team sharing keys. A manager who loses track of keys is exposed under NRS 118A.332 if the complex has more than 50 units. Our home rekeys start at $79.99, and for a group of units we count the doors and give you a written figure first.

For a single home or condo, see our house lockout service page. For a unit mailbox, read our guide to mailbox locks before you promise a tenant a key.

What to tell us on the phone

The more of this you can give us, the better.

• How many doorsOne unit or a whole complex.
• TimingThe date the new resident arrives.
• Lock typesDeadbolt, knob, smart lock or keypad.
• Key recordsWhether you keep a key log.
• Special casesA tenant who asked for a lock change, or a unit that was entered.

If it is not a job for us

Call us and tell us the make and model, and we will tell you straight whether it is a job for us. Ask your attorney about the terms of your own lease.

How to check any locksmith before you let them in

Ask for the business name, the license number and a total price before anyone drives out. Silver State holds a City of Las Vegas locksmith license, and you can look it up yourself at verify our license. Ask every company the same question and write down the answer.

Our guide to locksmith scams in Las Vegas lists the warning signs, such as a quote that changes at the door. If something goes wrong, you can file a complaint with the Nevada Attorney General or report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection also takes fraud complaints.