Commercial service
Restricted keyway systems in Ottawa
A restricted keyway solves one problem completely: uncontrolled copying.
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Typical arrival in Ottawa
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Typical starting price
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Insured and bonded, 12+ years
How it works
A restricted keyway solves one problem completely: uncontrolled copying. The blanks are not sold commercially, so no hardware counter can cut one. Consequently every key in circulation is one you authorised. Urban Locksmith sets up restricted key systems for Ottawa businesses.
- Step 1
Authorisation list agreed
Who may request a copy, and nobody else.
- Step 2
Restricted cylinders fitted
Blanks unavailable over a counter.
- Step 3
Keys numbered
Recorded against named holders.
- Step 4
Audit trail kept
So an annual check takes minutes.
Why uncontrolled copying matters
A standard key costs a few dollars to duplicate and takes two minutes. Consequently a departing employee, a contractor or a former tenant can retain access indefinitely without doing anything obviously wrong. Furthermore, you have no way to know it happened. Therefore key control is not about mistrust. It is about turning an unknowable into a documented list.
How authorisation works
You nominate who may request copies, and that list sits with the system. Consequently a request from anyone else is refused. Moreover each key issued is numbered and recorded against a holder. Therefore when someone leaves, you know precisely what they had. Additionally an annual audit against the list takes minutes rather than a building survey.
Typical starting price
Quoted
If staff turn over, usually yes. Because it beats rekeying repeatedly.
Restricted versus patented
Restricted means the blank is distribution-controlled. Meanwhile patented means the design itself is legally protected, so nobody can manufacture compatible blanks at all. Consequently patented systems offer stronger protection for the patent term. However, restricted systems cost less and cover most commercial needs. Therefore we recommend based on what is actually at risk.
Practical trade-offs
Spares must be ordered rather than cut while you wait, so planning matters. Furthermore, the cylinders cost more than standard ones. However, compare that against rekeying a building every time someone leaves. Consequently for premises with any turnover, restricted keyways usually pay for themselves within a couple of years.
Questions about restricted keyway systems
Can anyone copy a restricted key?
No. Blanks are distribution-controlled and copies need authorisation.
What is the difference from a patented key?
Patented designs are legally protected, so no compatible blanks exist at all.
Can we still have a master key?
Yes, and restriction protects the master from duplication.
How long do extra keys take?
They are ordered rather than cut on demand.
Is it worth it for a small business?
If staff turn over, usually yes. Because it beats rekeying repeatedly.
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Where we cover
Across Ottawa and every community within an hour’s drive — 47 areas in total, from downtown out to Kanata, Barrhaven, Carleton Place, Kemptville and Rockland. You get an honest arrival window on the phone rather than a number chosen to win the booking.