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

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

Key Facts

Deadbolt bolt projection
1 inch minimum
Deadbolt embedment into strike
3/4 inch minimum
Strike plate material
16-gauge steel, bronze or brass
Enforced by
Ontario Police Dept. and Building Official
Max penalty
$1,000 fine or 6 months jail

Summary

Ontario's building security code requires every exterior swinging door on a residential building or attached garage, including the garage-to-house door, to carry a single-cylinder deadbolt meeting exact projection, embedment and hardware specs before the City will sign off on occupancy.

Except for vehicular access doors, all exterior swinging doors of any residential building and attached garages, including the door leading from the garage area into the dwelling unit, shall be equipped as follows: ... A single or double door shall be equipped with a single cylinder deadbolt lock. The bolt shall have a minimum projection of one (1) inch and be constructed so as to repel cutting tool attack. The deadbolt shall have an embedment of at least three-fourths (¾) inch into the strike receiving the projected bolt. The cylinder shall have a cylinder guard and shall be connected to the inner portion of the lock by connecting screws of at least one-fourth (¼) inch in diameter. A dual locking mechanism constructed so that both deadbolt and latch can be retracted by a single action of the inside door knob, or lever, may be substituted; provided, it meets all other specifications for locking devices;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-32: Current through Ordinance 3338, passed 7-21-2026).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 11 of Title 4 (Security Standards for Buildings) applies to any structure for which the City requires a building permit, and it reaches existing multi-family units that later convert to condominiums. Under Sec. 08(a)(2), a single or double residential exterior door must have a single-cylinder deadbolt with a bolt projecting at least one inch, an embedment of at least three-fourths of an inch into the strike, a cylinder guard, and connecting screws at least one-quarter inch in diameter; a dual locking mechanism retracting both deadbolt and latch by one motion of the inside knob may substitute if it meets the same specs.

gauge steel, bronze, or brass, fastened with two screws penetrating at least two inches into solid backing (Sec. 08(a)(8),(10)). Sliding glass doors and windows need secondary locking and anti-lift devices unless the Police Department waives them after testing (Sec. 06), and out-swinging doors need nonremovable hinge pins. Garage doors without automatic openers need two exterior slide locks, one per side; doors with openers need only one (Sec. 08(a)(7)). Doors requiring special egress hardware under the Uniform Building Code or Title 19 CCR are exempt from the locking-device rules (Sec.

01(d)). The Police Department and Building Official jointly enforce the chapter through plan checks and inspections, and no certificate of occupancy issues until compliance is verified (Sec. 02).

Violations & Fines

Violating any provision of Chapter 11, including the deadbolt, strike plate, and hinge-pin specs, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 4-11.03 punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in County jail, or both. The Building Official also withholds the certificate of occupancy until the required hardware is installed and inspected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this rule apply to my existing house?
It applies to any building for which a permit is required, and it also reaches existing multi-family units that were rented at the time the ordinance took effect but later converted to privately-owned condominiums (Sec. 4-11.01(b)).
What locks satisfy a garage door without an automatic opener?
Sec. 4-11.08(a)(7) requires two exterior slide locks, one on each side of the door, for garage doors lacking an automatic opener; a door with an automatic opener needs only one slide lock.
Are any doors exempt from these locking specs?
Yes. Sec. 4-11.01(d) exempts doors that require special releasing, latching or locking hardware under the Uniform Building Code or Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, since those state fire-and-life-safety rules override the local locking-device requirements.
What happens if I skip the required hardware?
Sec. 4-11.03 makes noncompliance a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in County jail, or both, and the Building Official will not sign off on a certificate of occupancy until the required locks and strike plates are installed and inspected.

Sources & Official References

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All Ontario rules

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