Hillsborough Municipal Code Ch. 15.28 Building Security

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the construction of new residential dwellings and to major remodeling, additions, or alterations to existing dwellings as defined throughout Title 24 CCR, 2025 Edition, or successor provision.

(Ord 618 § 5, 2001; Ord. 336 § 1, 1976: prior code § 110.1.14(a))

(Ord. No. 799, § 3(Exh. A), 12-9-2025)

In this chapter the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

A. A "cylinder guard" is a hardened metal ring surrounding the exposed portion of the outside lock cylinder or other device which is so fastened as to protect the cylinder from wrenching, prying, cutting or other attack tools.

B. A "deadbolt lock" is a lock with a hardened metal throwpiece having a minimum travel of one inch, with no automatic spring action and which is operated by a single key cylinder on the outside and a turnpiece, knob or handle on the inside.

C. "Exterior door" means any door which opens to the outside, open area or garage. Excluded are doors designed primarily for vehicular access.

(Ord. 336 § 1, 1976: prior code § 110.1.14(b))

No building permit shall be issued for any new residential dwelling or for any major remodeling, additions or alterations of any existing dwelling until the plans for the construction comply with the following:

A. All exterior wood doors shall be of solid wood construction, at least one and three quarters inches thick, with the exception of the exterior door opening to a garage which shall be at least one and three-eighths inches thick.

B. All exterior wood doors shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock. The deadbolt turnpiece, knob or handle shall be located not more than forty-six inches from the floor. A cylinder guard shall be used on all deadbolt locks. The receiving portion of the bolt in the jamb shall be constructed with a strike plate and shall prevent access to the bolt from the outside through construction joints. The strike plate shall be secured to the double stud framing and any space between the studs and the door frame shall be shimmed with solid wood extending a minimum of three inches above and below the strike plate.

C. All exterior doors shall be equipped with either a peephole or other viewing device, or shall be so constructed as to provide visibility from the inside of the doorway to the outside of the doorway without opening the door. Glass or plastic panels shall not be within arm's reach of any locking device.

D. Outside hinges on all exterior doors and windows shall be provided with nonremovable pins. Such hinge pins may be either welded, flanged or secured by a screw which is not accessible when the door or window is in the closed position.

E. All sliding glass doors and windows and all casement windows, of which any portion extends within eight feet of the ground, a stairway, pavement, patio, deck or ramp shall be equipped with an auxiliary locking device. The auxiliary lock shall be either a positive bolt lock or a blockage in the track of sliding doors or windows which immobilizes movement in both directions. Overhead clearance of affected sliding doors and windows, when in the closed position, shall be reduced to one-fourth inch or less. All single sliding doors and windows shall have the movable section on the inside of the fixed section. Double sliding doors and windows must be locked at the meeting rail, immobilizing movement in either direction and resisting the separation of the meeting rails by wrenching, prying, or other attack tools.

F. Any locking device required on any door or window shall not require special knowledge or keys to open from the inside.

(Ord. 336 § 1, 1976: prior code § 110.1.14(c))