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Milwaukee, WI Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)

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

Key Facts

Minimum bolt
1/2-inch deadbolt
Covers
Dwellings built before June 24, 1989
Multi-door units
every exterior door needs a lock
Repair window
10 days after written notice
Code chapter
Ch. 217, Building Security

Summary

Milwaukee requires a cylinder deadbolt lock, minimum 1/2-inch bolt, on every dwelling-unit door in pre-1989 residential buildings and apartments citywide.

All doors covered by this section shall have a cylinder lock in addition to a latching device. The lock shall be either a deadbolt type, either surface-mounted or mortised into the door, with a minimum 1/2 inch bolt, or a surface-mounted vertical bolt lock. The lock cylinders shall be flush-mounted on the exterior or be protected by a cylinder guard plate or be tapered or rotated to prevent wrenching. Locks shall be openable with the use of a key from the exterior side of the door.

Source: Milwaukee Code of OrdinancesView official code

Full Breakdown

Milwaukee's Building Security chapter requires a cylinder lock plus deadbolt on every door to a dwelling unit in residential buildings, apartments, and one- and two-family homes constructed before June 24, 1989 -- most of the city's housing stock. The deadbolt must have at least a 1/2-inch bolt, surface-mounted or mortised into the door, with a cylinder that resists wrenching and is openable only by key from the exterior side. Units with more than one exterior access door must equip every one with a compliant lock. Newer buildings (built on or after June 24, 1989) fall under the separate, stricter Sec. 217-3 standard, which requires a minimum one-inch bolt and 5-pin high-security cylinders.

Violations & Fines

Building inspectors issue an order to comply; owners have 10 days after written notice to repair a non-functional lock, and the commissioner may repair or replace the device under Sec. 200-21 if the owner does not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Milwaukee require a specific type of lock on apartment doors?
Yes. Section 217-13(4)(a) requires a cylinder lock plus a deadbolt (minimum 1/2-inch bolt) or surface-mounted vertical bolt lock, openable by key from outside, on dwelling-unit doors in buildings built before June 24, 1989.
Who has to fix a broken deadbolt lock?
The building owner. Under Sec. 217-21, once notified in writing that a security device isn't working, the owner has 10 days to repair it, or the commissioner may step in under Sec. 200-21.
Are newer buildings covered by the same rule?
No. Buildings constructed on or after June 24, 1989 fall under Sec. 217-3, a stricter standard requiring a minimum one-inch deadbolt bolt with 5-pin high-security cylinders.

Sources & Official References

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All Milwaukee rules

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