Irvine, CA Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)

Section 5-9-516 of the Irvine Uniform Security Code sets the residential deadbolt standard: every single or double exterior swinging door on a residential building or garage, including the door leading from the garage into the dwelling and interior entrances to accessory dwelling units, must be equipped with a single-cylinder deadbolt lock with a bolt projection of at least one inch, constructed to repel cutting-tool attack, embedded at least three-quarters of an inch into the strike, and fitted with a cylinder guard, a minimum of five-pin tumblers, and connecting screws at least a quarter-inch in diameter.

The inactive leaf of double doors needs metal flush bolts with five-eighths-inch embedment, glazing within 40 inches of any lock must be fully tempered or burglary-resistant, and front doors need a 180-degree door viewer unless a clear vision panel is installed. Section 5-9-513 backs the deadbolt rule up at the frame level: strike plates for deadbolts on wood-framed doors must be at least 16-gauge steel, bronze, or brass, secured with two three-inch screws penetrating at least two inches into solid backing, and hinges on out-swinging doors need non-removable pins or a mechanical interlock.

Garage-type doors get their own chapter under Section 5-9-515, cylinder locks on garage doors need a minimum five-pin tumbler operation with the bolt extending at least one inch into the receiving guide, and doors wider than 16 feet need two lock points. These standards apply to new construction and to any addition, alteration or repair exceeding 50% of a building's value within a 12-month period, per Section 5-9-502.