We design and install restricted keyway master key systems for strata buildings, commercial properties, and multi-unit sites across North Vancouver and the North Shore — giving managers one key while keeping every unit fully private.
A master key system assigns different levels of access to different keys — all within the same group of locks. It's the practical answer to a property with many doors and many people who need different combinations of access.
If you manage a strata building in Lower Lonsdale, a commercial suite on Marine Drive, or a multi-family property in Lynn Valley, you've already felt the problem: one tenant needs their unit and the gym; a cleaner needs common areas but not private offices; the property manager needs everything. Standard keys solve none of this cleanly.
A master key system solves it by using a restricted keyway — a patented or controlled key blank that can't be copied at any hardware store — and a precisely planned key hierarchy. A change key opens one lock. A master key opens a defined group. A grand master opens every lock in the system. Each level is cut to work only where it's supposed to.
We design the hierarchy on paper first, confirm the access map with the site manager, then supply and install the hardware before issuing keys. The restricted keyway means you stay in control of key duplication for the life of the system.
Master key systems vary widely by the number of doors, chosen hardware grade, and how complex the key hierarchy needs to be. The figures below are typical North Shore ranges — your quote will depend on a site walk.
| Scope | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small system — 4 to 8 cylinders, single master level | $400 – $900 |
| Medium system — 10 to 20 cylinders, two levels (master + change keys) | $900 – $2,200 |
| Large or commercial — 25+ cylinders, grand master + master + change keys | $2,200 – $5,000+ |
| Restricted key duplication (authorised copies only) | $18 – $45 per key |
| Rekey single cylinder into existing system | $65 – $130 |
All pricing includes a site visit, the system design, hardware, installation, and documentation. No surprise add-ons once we've agreed on scope.
We walk the property with you, map every door and access zone, and note any existing hardware. This takes 30–60 minutes depending on the size of the building.
We produce a key-hierarchy chart showing exactly which key opens which doors. You sign off before we order a single cylinder. Restricted keyway choice is confirmed at this stage.
Our technician fits all cylinders, tests every combination, and hands you the documented key register. Original keys are issued against a signed authorisation sheet — the same sheet controls all future copies.
The North Shore has a high concentration of strata-titled properties — from the mid-rise towers along Lonsdale Avenue to the townhouse clusters in Norgate and the low-rise strata buildings in Edgemont Village. Strata councils need a system where the caretaker can access common areas (gym, parkade, mail room, amenity room) without ever touching a private unit. Owners need their own key that works nowhere else in the building. Restricted keyways are the practical standard because they prevent unauthorised copies from appearing in the system; key control is otherwise unenforceable in a dense multi-unit property.
We work directly with strata councils and property management companies on the North Shore. If you're the strata manager for a building that's changing over from an old system after a break-in, a lot of key turnover, or a records dispute, we can audit the existing cylinders and advise on whether a full rekeying into a new restricted keyway makes more sense than replacing all hardware from scratch.
Commercial tenants on the North Shore — offices, light-industrial units, marine-service businesses, professional practices — often need a two-tier system: staff keys for their own suite and staff-only areas, and a building-manager key that covers shared lobbies, service corridors, and equipment rooms. We've fitted systems in marine-drive commercial strips, medical buildings in Central Lonsdale, and warehouse units along the Rail Corridor where keyway control is especially important for liability reasons. We're happy to coordinate with a property manager or building engineer on the hardware spec.
A restricted keyway uses a patented key blank that's only available through authorised distributors — typically licensed locksmiths who have signed a supply agreement. Hardware stores and generic key-cutting kiosks can't cut copies because they can't obtain the blank. This means every key in the system is traceable and any duplication request goes through us (or another authorised agent), not through an anonymous kiosk.
It depends on the manufacturer and current keyway. Some locks can be re-pinned to fit into a new master key system; others need new cylinders. We assess this during the site audit. In most cases, mixing old hardware with a new restricted keyway means replacing the cylinders only — you keep the existing locksets and door hardware, which keeps costs down.
This is exactly why a key register matters. Because the keyway is restricted, you know a lost key cannot be copied and used to create additional unauthorised keys. However, we still recommend rekeyaing the affected cylinders promptly — the lost key itself is still functional until the cylinders are changed. We can do an emergency rekey call-out and issue a replacement master key to the documented holder.
For a small system (4–8 cylinders) we can typically complete the site audit, order hardware, and install everything within 2–5 business days. Larger systems or those requiring special-order hardware may take 7–14 days. Emergency situations — such as a security breach where access needs to be immediately controlled — can be handled on an expedited basis; call us directly to discuss.
Yes, hybrid systems exist. High-security mechanical cylinders can be combined with electronic readers at specific access points (the parkade entry, for instance) while the rest of the doors use mechanical restricted keys. We design around what already exists on the property and what the budget supports — there's no requirement to go fully electronic to get proper key control.
In most cases, yes. Bring us the existing key control documentation and we'll assess the current keyway. If it's a common restricted system, we can add cylinders, rekey into the existing hierarchy, or cut authorised copies. If the original supplier is no longer active or the records are lost, we'll advise on your options — sometimes a clean cutover to a new restricted keyway is the most secure and cost-effective path forward.
We cover all of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the surrounding North Shore communities.
Every locksmith service for homes, vehicles, and businesses across the North Shore.
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