Cathedral City, CA Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)

Chapter 8.34, Building Security, applies to all activities for which a building permit is required in Cathedral City, and the Chief Building Official is the enforcing authority. Section 8.34.080 covers residential buildings and attached garages. Exterior swinging doors, including the door from the garage into the dwelling, must be solid core wood at least 1 3/8 inches thick, or have panels not less than 9/16 inch thick. The deadbolt must sit no higher than 48 inches above the finished floor, project at least one inch, repel cutting tool attack, and embed at least 3/4 inch into the strike. The cylinder needs a guard, a minimum of five pin tumblers, and connecting screws of at least 1/4 inch in diameter. The inactive leaf of a double door needs metal flush bolts embedded at least 5/8 inch, glazing within 40 inches of the lock must be safety glazing or fully tempered glass, and front exterior doors need a wide angle (180°) viewer mounted no more than 58 inches above the floor unless the door has clear vision panels.

Section 8.34.050 adds frame rules: solid backing for six inches each side of the strike, and a deadbolt strike plate of 16 gauge steel, bronze or brass held by two screws that reach at least two inches into solid backing. Out-swinging doors need nonremovable hinge pins or a mechanical interlock. Under § 8.34.040, each unit in the same development must get locks with combinations interchange-free from every other unit.

Commercial buildings follow § 8.34.090. Swinging exterior doors take a double cylinder deadbolt unless panic hardware is required or the enforcing authority approves an equivalent device, and bars or grills over door glazing need Cathedral City Fire Department approval and a KNOX Rapid Entry System. Buildings that need special releasing, latching or locking devices under the Uniform Building Code or Title 19 are exempt from the locking provisions under § 8.34.010(D).