Cal. Civ. Code § 15
Changing or rekeying of the dwelling unit lock
Operative Text
Changing or rekeying of the dwelling unit lock. (a) A lessor of a dwelling unit shall comply with the provisions of this Section regarding the changing or rekeying of the dwelling unit lock. For the purposes of this Section, "dwelling unit" means a room or suite of rooms used for human habitation and for which a lessor and a lessee have a written lease agreement. (b) After a dwelling unit has been vacated and on or before the day that a new lessee takes possession of the dwelling unit, the lessor shall change or rekey the immediate access to the lessee's individual dwelling unit. For the purposes of this Section, "change or rekey" means: (1) replacing the lock; (2) replacing the locking or cylinder mechanism in the lock so that a different key is used to unlock the lock;(3) changing the combination on a combination or digital lock;(4) changing an electronic lock so that the means or method of unlocking the lock is changed from the immediately prior tenant; or(5) otherwise changing the means of gaining access to the lessee's locked individual dwelling unit so that it is not identical to the prior lessee's means of gaining access to the lessee's locked individual dwelling unit.(c) If a lessor does not change or rekey the lock as required in this Section, and a theft occurs at that dwelling unit that is attributable to the lessor's failure to change or rekey the lock, the landlord is liable for any damages from the theft that occurs as a result of the lessor's failure to comply with this Section. (d) The provisions of this Section do not apply if the lessee has obtained the right to change or rekey the dwelling unit lock pursuant to a written lease agreement. (e) The provisions of this Section do not apply to (i) an apartment rental in an apartment building with 4 units or less when one of the units is occupied by the owner or (ii) the rental of a room in a private home that is owner-occupied. (f) This Section applies only in counties having a population of more than 3,000,000.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 705 § 15, landlords who rent dwelling units covered by a written lease are required to change or rekey the lock on that unit after it is vacated and before a new tenant takes possession. The law defines "change or rekey" broadly, covering physical lock replacement, cylinder swaps, combination changes, and electronic access updates — essentially any method that ensures the incoming tenant's access credentials differ from the prior tenant's. If a landlord fails to meet this obligation and a theft occurs that is directly attributable to that failure, the landlord may be held liable for resulting damages. This requirement applies only in Illinois counties with a population exceeding 3,000,000 and does not cover small owner-occupied buildings of four units or fewer or owner-occupied private homes renting a single room.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 705 § 15 — generally those operating in Illinois counties with populations over 3,000,000 — typically document the lock change or rekey that occurs between tenancies, completing it no later than the day a new lessee takes possession. Compliant operators keep records of when the change was made and what method was used, whether that is a new cylinder, a replaced lock, a reset digital combination, or a reprogrammed electronic credential. Operators also review their lease agreements to determine whether a tenant has been granted the contractual right to handle rekeying themselves, which is the one written-lease exception the statute recognizes. Buildings with four or fewer units where the owner occupies one unit, and owner-occupied homes renting a single room, are exempt from this requirement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 705 § 15, tenants in covered Illinois counties have a right to move into a dwelling unit whose lock has been changed or rekeyed since the previous occupant left, ensuring that prior tenants cannot use old keys or credentials to gain entry. If a landlord fails to perform this change and a theft occurs as a result, the statute provides a basis for holding the landlord liable for damages stemming from that failure. Tenants who believe this obligation was not met may wish to document the situation, review their lease for any clause transferring the rekeying responsibility to them, and consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Illinois housing law to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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