Locks and keys in Downtown and Uptown Oakland

The centre of the city

94612 is downtown: City Hall and Frank Ogawa Plaza, office towers on Broadway and Franklin, the 12th Street and 19th Street BART stations, and Uptown around the Fox and Paramount theaters. Calls mix office suites, condo units, bars and restaurants, and cars in parking garages.

Office suites

Older towers often use interchangeable-core locks on suite doors. Changing a core is quick once the property manager confirms the system. Ask your manager who controls the master key before booking.

Venues and late nights

Uptown's bars and restaurants close late and staff come and go. A rekey after a staff change, a padlock for a delivery door, or opening a cash safe are typical calls.

Garages

If a car is locked in a garage, check the garage hours; some close at night and the locksmith needs to reach the car.

P.O. box and single-building ZIPs

Thirteen downtown ZIP codes belong to post office boxes or single large buildings, not streets. They are 94604, 94614, 94615, 94617, 94622 to 94625, 94649, 94659 to 94661, and 94666. Mail to any of them is handled from this page.

Condo rules

Many downtown condo buildings run a master key system, and the HOA may require a particular lock brand on unit doors so building staff can still enter in an emergency. Check the HOA rules before swapping a lock. A rekey within the approved brand is usually allowed.

Practical notes

Lake Merritt BART and the Kaiser Center area see office workers who leave car keys at a desk or drop them in a garage. If you know where the key is but can't reach it, a lockout may be cheaper than a new key. Ask the dispatcher to compare the two prices before deciding, and mention any coupon you plan to use so it is counted from the start.