Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 15.22 Security Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1139, § 1, adopted Oct. 28, 2025, amended Ch. 15.22 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 15.22, §§ 15.22.010—15.22.170, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. No. 1094, § 1, adopted Nov. 8, 2022.

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth minimum standards of construction for resistance to unlawful entry.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to enclosed groups B, F, M, R, and S occupancies and enclosed private garages.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

No provisions of this chapter shall require or be construed to require devices on exit doors or on sleeping room emergency exits contrary to the requirements specified in Chapter 10 and Section 310.4 of the California Building Code.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prevent the use of any device or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code when such an alternate provides equivalent security based on a recommendation of the county sheriff or the city public safety office.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:

"Cylinder guard" is a protective metal device of hardened steel, or with a hardened steel insert, that covers or surrounds the exposed portion of the lock cylinder for the purpose of protecting the cylinder from wrenching, prying, cutting, driving through, or pulling out by attack tools.

"Deadbolt" is a bolt which has no automatic spring action and which is operated by a key cylinder, thumb-turn or lever, and is positively held fast when in the projected position.

"Deadlocking latch" is a latch in which the latch bolt is positively held in the projected position by a guard bolt, plunger, or auxiliary mechanism.

"Latch" is a device for automatically retaining the door in a closed position upon its closing.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Panels shall be closed and locked. Tests shall be performed in the following order:

15.22.61 Test A. With the panels in the normal position, a concentrated load of three hundred (300) pounds shall be applied separately to each vertical pull stile incorporating a locking device, at a point of the stile within six inches (152.4 mm) of the locking device, in the direction parallel to the plane of glass that would tend to open the door.

15.22.62 Test B. Repeat test A while simultaneously adding a concentrated load of one hundred fifty (150) pound[s] to the same area of the same style in a direction perpendicular to the plane of glass toward the interior side of the door.

15.22.63 Test C. Repeat test B with the one hundred fifty (150) pound[s] (667.2 N) force in the reversed direction toward the exterior side of the door.

15.22.64 Tests D, E, and F. Repeat tests A, B, and C with the movable panel lifted upwards to its full limit within the confines of the door frame.

15.22.65 Identification. Sliding glass door assemblages subject to the provisions of this section shall bear a label or other approved means of identification indicating compliance with these tests. The label shall be a type authorized through a recognized testing agency which provides periodic follow-up inspection service.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Sash shall be closed and locked. Tests shall be performed in the following order:

15.22.71 Test A. With the sliding sash in the normal position, a concentrated load of one hundred fifty (150) pounds shall be applied separately to each sash member incorporating a locking device, at a point on the sash member within six inches (152.4 mm) of the locking device, in the direction parallel to the plane of glass that would tend to open the window.

15.22.72 Test B. Repeat test A while simultaneously adding a concentrated load of seventy-five (75) pounds to the same area of the same sash member in the direction perpendicular to the plane of glass toward the interior side of the window.

15.22.73 Test C. Repeat test B with the seventy-five (75) pounds of force in the reversed direction toward the exterior side of the window.

15.22.74 Tests D, E, and F. Repeat tests A, B, and C with the movable sash lifted upwards to its full limit within the confines of the window frame.

15.22.75 Identification. Sliding glass window assemblages subject to the provisions of this section shall bear a label or other approved means of identification indicating compliance with these tests. The label shall be a type authorized through a recognized testing agency which provides periodic follow-up inspection service.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

A door forming a part of the enclosure of a dwelling unit or of an area occupied by one tenant of a building shall be constructed, installed, and secured as set forth in Sections 15.22.090, 15.22.110 and 15.22.120, when such door is directly reachable or capable of being reached from a street, highway, yard, court, passageway, corridor, balcony, patio, breezeway, private garage, portion of the building which is available for use by the public or other tenants, or similar area. A door enclosing a private garage with an interior opening leading directly to a dwelling unit shall also comply with said Sections 15.22.090, 15.22.100, 15.22.110, and 15.22.120.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

15.22.91 Swinging wooden doors which are operable from the inside without the use of a key shall be of one of the following constructions or shall be of a construction having equivalent forced entry resistance:

15.22.91.1 Solid core doors not less than one and three-eighths inches (35 mm) in thickness.

15.22.91.2 Wood panel type doors with panels fabricated of lumber not less than one and three-eighths inches (34.9 mm) thick, provided shaped portions of the panels are not less than one-fourth-inch (6.4 mm) thick. Individual panels shall not exceed 300 square inches (0.19 m 2 ) in area. Stiles and rails shall be of solid umber with overall dimensions of not less than one and three-eighths inches (35 mm) in thickness and three inches (76 mm) in width. Mullions shall be considered a part of adjacent panels unless sized as required herein for stiles and rails, except mullions not over eighteen (18) inches (457 mm) long may have an overall width of not less than two inches (51 mm). Carved areas shall have a thickness of not less than three-eighths-inch (9.5 mm). Dimensional tolerances published in recognized industry standards may be utilized.

15.22.91.3 Hollow core doors or doors less than one and three-eighths inches (35 mm) in thickness, either of which are covered on the inside face with 16-gauge sheet metal attached with screws at six inches (152 mm) maximum centers around the perimeter. Lights in doors shall be as set forth in Sections 15.22.140 and 15.22.150.

15.22.92 A single swinging door, the active leaf of a pair of doors, and the bottom leaf of Dutch doors shall be equipped with a deadbolt and a latch. If a key-locking feature is incorporated in the latching mechanism, a dead latch shall be used. The deadbolt and latch may be activated by one lock or by individual locks. Deadbolts shall contain hardened inserts, or the equivalent, so as to repel cutting tool attack. The deadbolt lock or locks shall be key operated from the exterior side of the door and engaged or disengaged from the interior side of the door by a device not requiring a key, tool or excessive force.

Exceptions:

1. The latch may be omitted from doors in group B occupancies.

2. In other than residential occupancies, locks may be key-operated or otherwise operated from the inside when not prohibited by Chapter 10 of the California Building Code or other laws and regulations.

3. A swinging door of greater than five feet (1,524 mm) width may be secured as set forth in Section 15.22.110.

4. In residential occupancies, doors not required by Section 310.4 or 1004.1 of the California Building Code may be equipped with security type hardware which requires a key to release from the interior side of the door if the sleeping rooms are protected with a fire warning system as set forth in Section 310.9 of the California Building Code and an automatic sprinkler system as required by Section 903.2.8 of the California Building Code.

A straight deadbolt shall have a minimum throw of one inch (25.4 mm), and the embedment shall not be less than five-eighths inch (15.9 mm) into the holding device receiving the projected bolt. A hook-shaped or expanding lug deadbolt shall have a minimum throw of three-fourths-inch (19 mm). All deadbolts of locks which automatically activate two or more deadbolts shall embed at least one-half-inch (12.7 mm), but need not exceed three-fourths-inch (19 mm), into the holding devices receiving the projected bolts.

15.22.93 The inactive leaf of a pair of doors and the upper leaf of Dutch doors shall be equipped with a deadbolt or deadbolts as set forth in Section 6709.2.

Exceptions:

1. The bolt or bolts need not be key-operated, but shall not be otherwise activated from the exterior side of the door.

2. The bolt or bolts may be engaged or disengaged automatically with the deadbolt or by another device on the active leaf or lower leaf.

3. Manually operated hardened bolts that are at the top and bottom of the leaf and which embed a minimum of one-half-inch (12.7 mm) into the device receiving the projected bolt may be used when not prohibited by Chapter 10 or other laws and regulations.

15.22.94 Doorstops on wooden jambs for in-swinging doors shall be of one-piece construction with the jamb or joined by a rabbet.

15.22.95 Non-removable pins shall be used in pin type hinges which are accessible from the outside when the door is closed.

15.22.96 Cylinder guards shall be installed on cylinder locks for deadbolts whenever the cylinder projects beyond the outside face of the door or is otherwise accessible to attack tools.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Sliding glass doors shall be equipped with locking devices and shall be so installed that, when subjected to tests specified in Section 15.22.060, they remain intact and engaged. Movable panels shall not be rendered easily openable or removable from the frame during or after the tests. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim-type cylinder locks installed in hollow metal doors whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise accessible to gripping tools. Locking devices installed on sliding glass doors providing the exit required by Section 1003 or providing for the emergency escape or rescue required by Section 310.4 shall be releasable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or excessive force.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Metal or wooden overhead and sliding doors shall be secured with a deadbolt lock, padlock with a hardened steel shackle, or equivalent when not otherwise locked by electric power operation. Locking devices, when installed at the jamb of metal or wooden overhead doors, shall be installed on both jambs when such doors exceed nine feet (2,743 mm) in width. Metal or wooden sliding doors exceeding nine feet (2,743 mm) in width and provided with a jam blocking device shall have the door side opposite the lock restrained by a guide or retainer. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim type cylinder locks installed in hollow metal doors whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or are otherwise accessible to gripping tools.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Metal accordion grate or grille type doors shall be equipped with metal guides at top and bottom, and a cylinder lock or padlock and hardened steel shackle shall be provided. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim type cylinder locks installed in hollow metal doors whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or are otherwise accessible to gripping tools.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

A window, skylight or other light forming a part of the enclosure of a dwelling unit or of an area occupied by one tenant of a building shall be constructed, installed and secured as set forth in Sections 15.22.140 and 15.22.150, when the bottom of such window, skylight or light is not more than sixteen (16) feet (4,877 mm) above the grade of a street, highway, yard, court, passageway, corridor, balcony, patio, breezeway private garage, portion of the building which is available for use by the public or other tenants, or similar area. A window enclosing a private garage with an interior opening leading directly to a dwelling unit shall also comply with Sections 15.22.140 and 15.22.150.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Lights within forty (40) inches (1,016 mm) of a required locking device on a door when in the closed and locked position and openable from the inside without the use of a key, and lights with a least dimension greater than six inches (152 mm) but less than forty-eight (48) inches (1,219 mm) in groups B, F, M and S occupancies, shall be fully tempered glass, laminated glass of at least one-fourth-inch (6.4 mm) thickness, approved burglary resistant material, or guarded by metal bars, screens or grilles in an approved manner.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

15.22.151 Locking devices installed on windows providing the emergency egress required by Section 310.4 shall be releasable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or excessive force.

15.22.152 Sliding glass windows shall be provided with locking devices that, when subject to the tests specified in Section 15.22.070, remain intact and engaged. Movable panels shall not be rendered easily openable or removable from the frame during or after the tests.

15.22.153 Other openable windows shall be provided with substantial locking devices which render the building as secure as the devices required by this section. In groups B, F, M, and S occupancies, such devices shall be a glide bar, bolt, crossbar, and/or padlock with hardened steel shackle.

15.22.154 Special. Louvered windows, except those above the first story in group R occupancies, which cannot be reached without a ladder, shall be of material or guarded as specified in Section 15.22.140, and individual panes shall be securely fastened by mechanical fasteners that require a tool for removal and are not accessible on the outside when the window is in the closed position.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Openings, other than doors or lights, which form a part of the enclosure, or portion thereof, housing a single occupant, and the bottom of which is not more than sixteen (16) feet (4,877 mm) above the grade of a street, highway, yard, court, passageway, corridor, balcony, patio, breezeway or similar area, or from a private garage, or from a portion of the building which is occupied, used or available for use by the public or other tenants, or an opening enclosing a private garage attached to a dwelling unit with openings therein, shall be constructed, installed and secured as set forth in Section 15.22.170.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

15.22.171 Wooden hatchways of less than one and three-fourths-inch-thick (44 mm) solid wood shall be covered on the inside with 16-gage sheet metal attached with screws at six-inch-maximum (152 mm) centers around the perimeter.

15.22.172 The hatchway shall be secured from the inside with a slide bar, slide bolt, and/or padlock with a hardened steel shackle.

15.22.173 Outside pin type hinges shall be provided with non-removable pins or a means by which the door cannot be opened through the removal of hinge pins while the door is in the closed position.

15.22.174 Other openings exceeding ninety-six (96) square inches (0.062 m 2) with the least dimension exceeding eight inches (203 mm) shall be secured by metal bars, screens, or grilles in an approved manner.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)