Service illustration · not a completed customer projectTHE WORK, EXPLAINED
Start with the condition.
Understand the scope.
A gate or shared-entry assessment considers latch alignment, movement, closer operation and hardware exposure. Ask which components need service or replacement and whether the proposed lock is compatible with the existing key system. Coordinate the authorized keying arrangement with the property manager and affected occupants before changes are made.
What may be involved
- gate lock or latch
- closer adjustment
- weather-rated cylinder
- keyed-alike cylinders
- strike and keeper
Ask the provider to distinguish existing parts to inspect, proposed replacements, and tools, materials or reports included in the service. Confirm the work and exclusions after assessment; this list does not mean that every item will be supplied or replaced.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Bal Harbour
Local context
Miami-Dade County's building department publishes a separate checklist for security bars, grilles and grates: a completed building permit application with Category 35 marked, a floor plan drawing indicating the location and room, and either the county's standard details or custom drawings. The county's permit exemption list for unincorporated addresses reinforces the point, listing ironwork as exempt only when it is for decorative purposes and noting that security bars, doors and railings require a permit. If you are considering barred gates or grilles rather than a lock change, ask the building department covering your address what applies, and ask how any barred opening would still be operable from inside in an emergency.
Source ↗Planning your work
Miami-Dade County published a notice that, effective 1 July 2025, its Regulatory and Economic Resources department is no longer issuing licences for locksmiths and locksmith services businesses, in accordance with section 163.211 of the Florida Statutes, as the county no longer has regulatory authority over the occupation. The notice is about who issues the licence. It is not a statement that any individual provider is qualified, insured or trustworthy. Ask a provider what state licence, insurance and photo identification they carry, ask how they will verify that you are entitled to the property, and confirm what you are told before anyone works on your locks.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
Before the visit
Tell us the lock type, your location and whether you still have a working key.
