Our homes, businesses, and vehicles are some of our most valuable possessions.  The key to securing these investments depends not only on the quality of the locks, but also on the integrity, honesty and workmanship of the locksmith.  The goal of the Miami-Dade County Locksmith Ordinance is to ensure the highest level of competency and security in this area.

The Locksmith Ordinance requires any person who installs, repairs, rebuilds, rekeys, repins, recodes, services, adjusts, opens, or modifies locks, mechanical and electronic security locking devices and peripherals, safes vaults, safe deposit boxes, and closed circuit television systems to register with the Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department (CSD), Consumer Protection Division.

Competency/Security
All locksmith applicants are subject to a criminal background check.  Any identified plea of no contest, plea of guilt, finding of guilt, or withhold of adjudication for crimes identified in the Locksmith Ordinance will disqualify the applicant from receiving a registration.

Individuals applying for a locksmith license must have been a Miami-Dade County licensed apprentice locksmith for at least one (1) year.  If the applicant has not been a licensed locksmith apprentice for at least a year, the applicant must demonstrate through documented proof that they have worked as a locksmith or a locksmith supervisor for at least one (1) year.

Individuals who do not qualify for a locksmith license due to lack of apprenticeship or experience may apply for an apprentice locksmith license.  The apprentice locksmith must work under the supervision of a licensed locksmith during the course of the apprenticeship.  The same criminal background requirements for locksmiths apply to apprentice locksmiths.

In order to obtain a license for a locksmith business, the applicant must provide proof that they meet the minimum combined liability insurance requirements of the Locksmith Ordinance.

Key Provisions of the Ordinance 
The locksmith registration number (example: ) must also be displayed on all advertisements including the Yellow Pages listings, work orders, invoices and commercial trucks and vans.

Locksmiths are prohibited from charging for services that have not been authorized by the customer or charge for services that have not been rendered.

Prior to opening any home, office, building or safe, locksmiths must obtain and record on a work order the name, address, telephone number, driver's license number or other identification and signature of the person requesting the service.

Prior to opening a locked vehicle, locksmiths must obtain and record on a work order the signature, name,  address, telephone number, driver's license number or other identification and signature of the person requesting the service, license plate number and vehicle identification number.  This requirement also applies to towing companies that open vehicles when performing tows.

Locksmiths performing a service valued at $50 or greater must provide the customer with an invoice.  The invoice must include an invoice number; the name, address, registration number and telephone number of the locksmith business; the name and license number of the employee who performed the service; the name, address, telephone number and signature of the customer; the date of the transaction; a brief description of the service performed; and any applicable terms and conditions.

Key Duplication    
While businesses (hardware stores, home improvement retailers, department stores, etc.) that only duplicate keys by machine from existing keys are exempt from registering with Miami-Dade County, portions of the Locksmith Ordinance apply to those businesses as well as registered locksmiths. 

Businesses involved in key duplication as stated above are prohibited from keeping copies of duplicated keys. The ordinance requires those businesses to provide customers with all duplicated keys, including keys made in error, and keys with errors.  The business must post a sign indicating such near the duplicating machine in English,

Spanish and Creole.
Restricted keys or keys that state specifically that they are not to be duplicated can not be duplicated unless the business obtains written authorization to duplicate said key for each transaction.  The written authorization must include the following information: name, address, telephone number, driver's license or other identification issued by a government and the signature of the person authorized to request duplication; the date of the request; description of the key; and specific quantity of keys to be duplicated.

Choosing a Locksmith     
Remember the following tips when choosing a locksmith:

• Ask family/friends for recommendations
• Deal with registered locksmiths Call CSD at (305) 375-3677, for verification
• Research complaints filed with CSD at the number listed above
• Obtain more than one written estimate
• Do not make a choice based on price alone

Complaints
If your choice of locksmith or key duplicator results in a dispute and you can not resolve it directly with the business, contact CSD's Consumer Mediation Center via telephone at (305) 375-3677 or the Web at www.miamidade.gov/csd.  Experienced Investigative Analysts will investigate your complaint and contact you with the results of the investigation as well as any recommended courses of action.