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Garden Grove, CA Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
New SB 9 two-unit/lot-split units
Requirement
Standard door locks and deadbolts, main entry
Entry cover depth required
At least 3 feet
Verified at
Building permit final inspection
Approval expires if construction not started within
1 year

Summary

Garden Grove's design standards for SB 9 two-unit developments and urban lot splits require every new primary dwelling unit's main entry to carry standard door locks and deadbolts. Municipal Code Section 9.56.100(L)(4) ties the hardware mandate to a covered, street-oriented entry at least three feet deep, and the rule applies only to units created under the SB 9 chapter.

Each new primary dwelling unit shall have a main entry that is clearly defined, and to the extent possible, be oriented directly toward the street(s) in order to provide consistency with the neighborhood. The main entry shall be covered, with a minimum depth of three feet. Each covered entry shall be in proportion with the building and shall incorporate architectural features that are used in the overall building design. All doors shall have standard door locks and dead bolts.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4903654; v10 updated 2026-05-12).

Full Breakdown

7. Subsection L, Unit Design Standards, requires each new primary dwelling unit to have a main entry that is clearly defined and, where possible, oriented toward the street for consistency with the neighborhood; the entry must be covered to a minimum depth of three feet and must incorporate architectural features used elsewhere in the building design. The same subsection then adds the security requirement at issue: all doors shall have standard door locks and dead bolts. Because these standards apply project-wide to SB 9 developments, the deadbolt mandate sits alongside other unit-design rules in the same subsection, including a requirement that exterior lighting be limited to down-lights, a minimum 144-cubic-foot private storage space, and separate hot water heaters for each unit.

The hardware requirement is verified during the City's building permit review, and related sections make clear that standard building and fire code requirements otherwise apply to these units. This deadbolt rule is specific to new units created under the SB 9 chapter; it is not a general citywide mandate that all existing doors in Garden Grove carry deadbolts.

Violations & Fines

A new primary dwelling unit built without the required locks and deadbolts fails building-permit final inspection under Section 9.56.100(L)(4) and cannot receive final approval until corrected; separately, an SB 9 approval becomes null and void under Section 9.56.160 if construction is not commenced within one year or diligently advanced to completion. Uncorrected Code violations remain subject to the general misdemeanor penalty in Section 1.04.010.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Garden Grove require deadbolts on new SB 9 units?
Yes. Section 9.56.100(L)(4) requires the main entry of every new primary dwelling unit built under an SB 9 two-unit development or urban lot split to have standard door locks and deadbolts.
Does this deadbolt rule apply to my existing single-family home?
No. It is a design standard specific to new units created under Chapter 9.56 for SB 9 two-unit developments and lot splits, not a general requirement for all existing Garden Grove homes.
What happens if the deadbolt requirement isn't met?
The unit will not clear the building permit's final inspection under Section 9.56.100, and the City can withhold final approval until the door hardware is corrected.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Garden Grove

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