High-traffic commercial spaces go through constant employee shifts, third-party access, and unexpected changes. We often see key control become a blind spot. Every unlocked door or untracked key handoff increases risk. Unlike low-traffic offices, busy locations experience far more movement. That leads to higher chances of lost, copied, or stolen keys.
Let’s walk through the specific reasons why businesses like restaurants, clinics, retail stores, and warehouses should rekey more often than they assume is necessary.
Employee Turnover Happens Faster Than Locks Change
When team members leave, most businesses ask for their keys back. However, very few confirm if copies were made. We understand that even trusted staff might make an extra key out of convenience. If a key is copied once, the entire lock system becomes vulnerable, especially in areas with merchandise, tools, or sensitive files.
Rekeying immediately after employee turnover eliminates that concern. It gives control back to the business. Even if the key was returned, there is no guarantee it’s the only one. In fast-paced environments like fast food or retail, employees come and go more frequently. That alone makes regular rekeying a routine part of safety, not just a reaction to theft or vandalism.
For commercial properties in busy sectors, our commercial locksmith Ottawa specialists often recommend rekeying after any staffing changes that involve key access.
Lost Keys Are Not Always Reported
Keys get lost in everyday life. In most workplaces, employees avoid reporting a lost key because they worry it will lead to discipline or cost them money. That silence is risky. When keys are missing without confirmation of where they ended up, a rekey is the only reliable response.
We’ve seen businesses assume nothing will happen and delay action. In several cases, that led to break-ins months later, with no sign of forced entry. The cost of one unauthorized entry always outweighs the small effort of rekeying.
In these moments, connecting with a locksmith in Ottawa who handles high-traffic locations can make the process smoother. With proper scheduling, most rekeys can be completed during business hours with minimal disruption.
Cleaning, Maintenance, and Contractor Access Adds Risk
Third-party access increases key exposure. Cleaners, repair workers, and tech installers often require temporary access to locked spaces. While some businesses give out temporary codes or badges, many hand out a physical key. After the task is done, those keys don’t always make their way back.
More importantly, there is no way to track if someone copied a key during the time it was out of your hands. Some business owners trust these vendors fully, but the concern isn’t always the main contact. Keys may be passed down a subcontractor chain. As a result, the key changes hands in ways that are hard to trace.
We suggest rekeying shared access locks after a project ends, especially if it involved unsupervised access to stockrooms, offices, or cash-handling areas. Preventive rekeying in these cases lowers the chance of future access by people who should no longer enter.
Old Tenants or Staff Could Still Have Entry
Many buildings in Ottawa host multiple businesses over time. When a new lease starts or management changes, it’s easy to focus on utilities, branding, and furniture. Rekeying often gets skipped unless someone brings it up directly.
That leaves the new team working in a space where a previous tenant or their former staff may still have a way in. Even if a lock change was promised, unless a rekey was done professionally, the risk remains. We often find that locks weren’t changed at all. The same key that worked three years ago may still unlock today’s business.
Calling a local locksmith for business rekeying ensures all old keysets become useless. It also gives a clean slate, especially when dealing with unfamiliar property history.
Master Key Systems Can Be Exploited If Not Maintained
Master key systems work well in busy offices or stores with multiple access levels. However, they only remain secure if they are updated when access levels change. If a middle manager’s access changes, and their key still works in a shared office or records room, the entire system loses its value.
We’ve seen master systems go untouched for years. Meanwhile, dozens of people hold keys that open more than intended. Over time, this undermines internal controls. Rekeying helps reset access levels and restore proper tiered access. Without it, your master key system becomes a liability instead of a solution.
Routine rekeying also catches outdated pins, worn keys, or compromised locks before they cause issues. It’s not just about control—it’s about reliability, too.
Key Control Policies Don’t Replace Rekeying
Some businesses rely on logs, key sign-out sheets, or verbal agreements to track access. While helpful, these policies cannot account for silent copying, lost keys, or misuse. People forget to sign out. Others lend their key in emergencies. After enough time, even the best key-tracking habits break down.
Rekeying is not a replacement for good access policies, but it supports them. By resetting locks, the system gets a fresh start. If done on a set schedule—like once per year or during quarterly maintenance—it becomes part of routine security, not just a crisis fix.
It also sends a clear signal to staff that key access is serious. That mindset shift helps reinforce better habits going forward.
Lock Damage and Wear Build Up Faster in Busy Areas
More traffic means more wear. Office doors that open hundreds of times per day see different pressure than storage closets used once a week. Over time, pins inside the lock cylinder wear down. Keys that once worked smoothly begin to catch, stick, or stop working altogether.
If staff force keys into sticking locks, they might break the key inside. This results in emergency calls and potential damage to the door hardware. By rekeying locks when wear becomes noticeable, you prevent breakdowns and reduce day-to-day frustration.
It’s also a good time to match locks across the business if key duplication has caused confusion. Some doors end up with mismatched locks over the years, requiring different keys for the same building. Streamlining these through a scheduled rekey brings back convenience.
Security Incidents Without Signs of Entry
Break-ins are often assumed to involve broken glass or forced doors. However, in high-traffic businesses, many unauthorized entries involve no damage. Doors are unlocked using old or copied keys, and items go missing without a clear trace.
After small incidents like this, many businesses hesitate to rekey. They assume it was a one-off mistake or misplaced item. Unfortunately, this allows the person who accessed the building to do it again.
When items disappear, even small ones, without a break-in, rekeying is the safest next step. It closes the door to silent intrusions that leave no obvious trail. Regular rekeying limits how long an unauthorized person can use an old key undetected.
Landlord-Controlled Locks Can Be Problematic
In multi-unit properties or shared office buildings, landlords often control exterior door keys. However, interior office locks usually fall under the tenant’s responsibility. If you run a clinic or store within a larger complex, don’t assume the property manager handled rekeying.
It’s important to take ownership of the locks specific to your leased space. Otherwise, former tenants, neighboring units, or maintenance staff may still hold keys that work. We’ve rekeyed many small offices where keys from past tenants still worked because no changes were made when the lease changed.
To avoid these issues, it’s best to schedule a commercial lock rekey service as soon as you move in or restructure the space.
Rekeying Is Less Disruptive Than Most Think
Many business owners avoid rekeying because they assume it takes too long or costs too much. In truth, rekeying is a fast, simple job in most cases. Unlike full lock replacement, it only changes the inner cylinder pins. This keeps your existing hardware while issuing new keys that make old ones useless.
For offices, retail, or clinics with multiple staff, we can usually schedule early morning or end-of-day appointments. That way, customers and daily operations stay uninterrupted. Some businesses even combine rekeying with their fire safety checks or alarm maintenance to streamline the process.
If your locks haven’t been changed recently, now is the time to get in touch with a commercial locksmith in Ottawa and ask about setting up a routine rekey schedule that fits your industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a business rekey its locks?
At least once a year or immediately after employee turnover, lost keys, or major access changes.
What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks?
Rekeying keeps your current hardware but changes the key pattern. Changing locks means replacing the entire hardware.
Does rekeying affect door function or security?
No, when done correctly, it keeps everything working smoothly while restoring control over who has access.
Can master key systems be rekeyed?
Yes, they can be updated to adjust access levels or remove compromised keys from the system.
Is rekeying necessary if I got all the keys back?
Yes, because there’s no way to know if a key was copied without your knowledge.