Last updated: February 2026
That sick feeling in your stomach when an employee walks out angry, a key goes missing, or you realize an ex-tenant still has access to your building? We know it. A commercial lock rekey in Stuart, FL runs $25 to $75 per cylinder and takes 15 to 45 minutes per lock, depending on the hardware. Stuart Locksmiths handles same-day rekeying for offices, retail shops, warehouses, and multi-tenant buildings across Martin County.
Rekeying doesn't replace your locks. It changes the internal pin configuration so every old key goes dead and you get fresh keys that actually work. For most Stuart businesses, that's exactly what the situation calls for, and it costs a fraction of full Lock Change & Replacement.
Why Stuart Business Owners Rekey Their Locks
Employee turnover is the number one reason we get calls. A manager leaves, a contractor finishes their job, a seasonal worker heads out after peak tourist season along US-1, and suddenly someone who doesn't work for you anymore has a key to your business. That's not a small problem.
Stuart's commercial district stretches from East Ocean Boulevard down through the Colorado Avenue corridor, and a lot of those buildings have seen the same locks for 10, 15, even 20 years. Keys copy without your knowledge. Maintenance staff loan keys to vendors. Before long, you have no idea how many active keys exist for your property. According to the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), the average commercial building has 2.7 unaccounted-for keys in circulation at any given time. Rekeying resets that count to zero.
Other common triggers: a break-in attempt (even an unsuccessful one means someone was testing your locks), a lease change at a shared office, a business sale, or an insurance audit requirement. If your policy covers theft, your insurer may actually require evidence of access control updates after a security incident.
Rekey vs. Replace: Which One Does Your Business Actually Need?
Here's where most people get confused. Locksmith salespeople sometimes push full replacements when rekeying does the same job for 60% less money. But full replacement isn't always wrong either. Here's a straight comparison:
| Factor | Rekey | Full Lock Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per cylinder | $25-$75 | $80-$300+ |
| Time per lock | 15-30 min | 30-60 min |
| Lock hardware stays | Yes | No, fully replaced |
| Good for worn/damaged locks | No | Yes |
| Upgrades security grade | No | Yes (if upgrading model) |
| Invalidates old keys instantly | Yes | Yes |
| Best for employee turnover | Yes | Overkill unless lock is worn |
Bottom line: if your hardware is solid, rekey. If the lock is stiff, the keyway is worn, or you want a security upgrade at the same time, consider pairing rekeying with our High-Security Lock Installation service instead.
Commercial Lock Rekey Pricing in Stuart, FL
Pricing depends on the number of cylinders, the type of hardware, and whether you're on a master key system. Stuart Locksmiths doesn't charge extra for locations inside city limits, and we don't add fuel surcharges for businesses along the US-1 corridor or downtown Stuart's Flagler Avenue area.
| Service Type | Price Range | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Single cylinder rekey (standard commercial) | $25-$45 | 15-20 minutes |
| Per cylinder (5+ cylinder job) | $20-$35 | Varies by count |
| High-security cylinder rekey (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) | $55-$75 | 20-30 minutes |
| Master key system rekey (full building) | $150-$400+ | 1-4 hours depending on size |
Service call fee is $65, which gets applied to the total job cost. So a 3-cylinder office rekey typically runs $140 to $200 all in. We'll give you a firm quote before any work starts.
Our Commercial Rekey Process
No guesswork. No surprises. Here's exactly what happens when you call Stuart Locksmiths for a commercial rekey:
- Call and scope the job. You tell us how many doors, what hardware you have if you know it, and when you need service. We'll give you a ballpark over the phone and schedule same-day or next-day service in most cases.
- On-site assessment. Our technician checks every lock before touching anything. We confirm the cylinders are in good shape to rekey and flag any hardware that needs repair rather than rekeying. No upsells unless there's a real reason.
- Cylinder removal and repinning. The cylinder comes out, the existing pins get removed, and new driver and key pins go in to match a new key combination. We use manufacturer-spec pins, not generic hardware store parts.
- Function test. Every rekeyed lock gets tested 3 times before we move to the next door. New keys are cut and tested in the lock before we hand them over.
- Key handoff and documentation. You get the exact number of keys you requested, and we can provide a written key record for your files. If you're building a Master Key System, we document the hierarchy at this step.
Why Choose Stuart Locksmiths for Commercial Rekeying
We're a local operation, not a dispatch service routing calls to whoever picks up. Every technician who shows up at your Stuart business works directly for Stuart Locksmiths, carries Florida-required locksmith licensing, and has run hundreds of commercial rekey jobs across Martin County. We've done rekeying for retail shops on Osceola Street, medical offices near Martin Health, and waterfront hospitality businesses along the St. Lucie River.
Response time inside Stuart city limits: typically 25 to 45 minutes for urgent calls. We keep fully stocked service vehicles so we're not driving back to a shop for parts mid-job. Most commercial rekeys are finished in a single visit.
We also work with your schedule. If you need the job done at 7am before staff arrives, or after 6pm once customers are gone, we accommodate that. Florida's heat doesn't slow us down either. Our technicians are used to working in 90-degree humidity in parking lots and on loading docks, which is something you find out real fast matters when you need fast outdoor work done in August.
Need more than just rekeying? We can pair this service with Access Control Systems or Commercial Lock Installation if your building needs a full security refresh.
Commercial Rekeying by Business Type in Stuart
The job looks different depending on what kind of business you run. A 2-door retail shop on Colorado Avenue is a 30-minute job. A 12-unit office complex near Monterey Road with a master key system is a 3-hour project requiring pre-planned pin sequencing.
Restaurants and hospitality businesses near downtown Stuart often have high-turnover staff and back-of-house doors that need rekeying 2 to 3 times per year. Property managers handling multi-tenant buildings along SE Monterey Road call us between every tenancy. Medical offices need documented key control records for HIPAA compliance reasons. We know the difference and adjust our process accordingly. If your situation is unusual, ask us on the call and we'll tell you straight what it involves.
If you manage commercial property in nearby areas, we also serve Palm City, Jensen Beach, and Port St. Lucie. Same team, same pricing structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a commercial lock rekey take in Stuart?
Most single-door commercial rekeys take 15 to 25 minutes per cylinder. A standard 3-door office rekey is usually finished in under an hour, start to finish. Larger buildings with 10 or more cylinders or complex master key systems can take 2 to 4 hours.
Do I need to replace my entire lock or just rekey it?
If the lock hardware is in good working condition, you only need a rekey. The lock itself stays in place. Replacement makes sense when the lock is damaged, worn, or you want to upgrade to a higher security grade at the same time.
Can you rekey commercial locks to all work on the same key?
Yes. This is called keying alike. We can rekey multiple locks so a single key opens all of them, which is a common request for small offices and retail locations. It's different from a master key system, which allows multiple access levels.
What's the difference between rekeying and a master key system?
A basic rekey just changes which key opens a specific lock. A master key system is engineered so different keys open different combinations of locks, with one master key opening everything. We set up both. Master key systems cost more upfront but save time and money long-term for multi-door buildings.
Does Stuart Locksmiths rekey high-security commercial locks like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock?
Yes, though these require proprietary pins and tools. Rekeying a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock cylinder runs $55 to $75 per cylinder. Not every locksmith is equipped to do this correctly, and a bad rekey on a high-security lock defeats the purpose of having one.
How soon can you come out for a commercial rekey in Stuart?
For urgent situations, we're typically on-site within 25 to 45 minutes inside Stuart city limits. Scheduled appointments during business hours can usually be booked same-day or next morning.
What happens to the old keys after a rekey?
They stop working immediately. The moment rekeying is complete, every key cut to the old combination becomes a useless piece of metal. You don't need to collect old keys from former employees for the security change to take effect, though it's still good practice.
Can you rekey a commercial lock if I don't have the original key?
Yes. Our technicians can pick or decode the cylinder first, then rekey it to your new key. There may be a small additional charge for this step, but it doesn't require destroying the lock.
How much does it cost to rekey a commercial building in Stuart, FL?
Standard commercial cylinders run $25 to $45 each. High-security cylinders run $55 to $75. Full-building master key rekeys for multi-suite properties run $150 to $400 or more depending on cylinder count and system complexity. Service call fee is $65, applied toward the total.
Is commercial lock rekeying required after a break-in?
It's strongly recommended, and many business insurance policies require documentation of a security response after a break-in or attempted entry. Even if your lock wasn't compromised, rekeying after a burglary attempt is standard practice and often a claims requirement.
Can you rekey storefront or glass door commercial locks?
Yes. Storefront door cylinders are a regular part of our work in Stuart. Adams Rite and similar mortise-style cylinders common in glass storefront frames are fully rekeyable. See our Glass & Storefront Door Locks page for more details on that hardware type.