Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 67 Security Provisions

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Section

• 91.6701 Purpose.

• 91.6702 General.

• 91.6703 Limitations.

• 91.6704 Alternate Security Provisions.

• 91.6705 Definitions.

• 91.6706 Entry Vision.

• 91.6707 Appurtenant Access.

• 91.6708 Doors – General.

• 91.6709 Swinging Doors.

• 91.6710 Sliding Glass Doors.

• 91.6711 Overhead and Sliding Doors.

• 91.6712 Metal Accordion-grate or Grille-type Doors.

(Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

The purpose of this division is to provide a nominal level of resistance to unlawful entry of buildings by establishing minimum standards of construction and hardware for the closure of openings regulated by this division.

(Amended by Ord. No. 180,619, Eff. 5/12/09.)

In every Group B, F, M, S and R Occupancy, the openings regulated by this division shall be completely secured in accordance with the provisions specified herein.

EXCEPTIONS: The requirements of this division shall not apply to:

1. Detached buildings which are accessory to Group R-3 Occupancies.

2. Group B, F, M, S Occupancies which, by the nature of their operation, are unenclosed.

3. Group B, F, M, S Occupancies where the owner submits written notice to the Department of intent to substitute security personnel and/or site security installations in lieu of requirements of this division of this Code. Such exemption shall be subject to the concurrence of the Department and shall be one of the conditions upon which the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

The provisions of this division shall not be applicable to latching or locking devices on exit doors to the extent that the provisions of this division are contrary to the provisions of CBC Section 402.8.8 or CBC Chapter 10, nor shall the regulations of this division be construed to waive any other provision of this Code.

No person shall sell, offer for sale, advertise, display for sale or install any metal bars, grilles, grates, security roll-down shutters or similar devices manufactured or installed to preclude human entry through windows and exterior doors without a label attached to each product, printed in at least ten-point type and that reads as follows: “A building permit is required in most cases for the installation of this product. If this product is installed in a sleeping room, unless excepted by the provisions of CBC Section 1031, the device must be equipped with a quick-release latch operable from inside and the dwelling unit provided with an approved smoke detector.”

(Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

The provisions of this division are not intended to prevent the use of any device, hardware, or method of construction, not specifically prescribed in this division, when such alternate provides equivalent security and is approved by the Department.

(Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

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

CYLINDER GUARD. A ring surrounding the exposed portion of the lock cylinder, or any other device, which is so fastened as to protect the cylinder from wrenching, prying, cutting, or pulling by attack tools. The ring shall be made from steel or brass and shall have a minimum taper of 15 degrees.

DEADLOCKING LATCH. A latch in which the latch bolt is positively held in the projected position by a guard bolt, a plunger or an auxiliary mechanism.

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

ENCLOSING PARTITION. A partition extending the full height of the story to the floor or roof above separating tenant spaces.

LATCH. A device for automatically retaining a door, upon its closing, in a closed position.

SECURITY OPENING. An opening in a wall, partition, or roof when such opening occurs in any of the following locations:

1. In an exterior wall and less than 16 feet above the grade of any adjoining yard, court, passageway, public way, walk, breezeway, patio, planter porch or similar area.

2. In an exterior wall and less than 16 feet above the surface of any adjoining roof, balcony, landing, stair tread, platform, or similar structure when that surface is accessible to the public or another tenant or when any portion of such surface is itself less than 16 feet above an accessible grade.

3. In the enclosing partitions of a dwelling unit, private garage, guest room or single-tenant non-residential area.

4. In a roof when any portion of such roof is less than 16 feet above an accessible grade or surface accessible by another tenant or the public.

(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

In residential occupancies, all entry doors to dwelling units or guest rooms shall be arranged so that the occupant has a view of the area immediately outside the door without opening the door. Such view may be provided by a door viewer, through windows located in the vicinity of the door or through view ports in the door or adjoining wall. Such windows or view ports shall be constructed in compliance with the provisions of LAMC Section 91.6713.

(Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

Buildings located within eight feet of utility poles or similar structures which could otherwise be used to gain access to the building’s roof, balcony or similar surfaces shall have access to such building surfaces protected by screens, barricades or fences made of materials which preclude human climbing. Such protection shall extend to where the surfaces are more than eight feet from the pole or access structure.

(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

Every door in a security opening shall be constructed, installed and secured as set forth in LAMC Sections 91.6709, 91.6710, 91.6711 and 91.6712. Glazing in doors shall comply with LAMC Section 91.6713.

Every door in a security opening for an apartment house shall be provided with an incandescent light bulb (minimum of 60 watts) at a maximum height of 8 feet (2438.4 mm) or lights on the exterior side of the unit that have a minimum surface illumination of 0.2 footcandles (2.15 lx) at the security opening. Where, in any specific case, different sections of the LAMC specify different requirements, the most restrictive shall govern.

(Added by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

91.6709.1. Swinging wood doors which are openable 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:

1. Solid core doors not less than 1-3/8 inches in thickness.

2. Wood panel type door with panels fabricated of lumber not less than 9/16–inch thickness, provided shaped portions of the panels are not less than 1/4-inch thick. Individual panels shall not exceed 300 square inches in area. Stiles and rails shall be of solid lumber with overall dimensions of not less than 1-3/8 inches in thickness and three inches in width. Mullions shall be considered a part of adjacent panels unless sized as required herein for stiles and rails, except mullions not over 18 inches long may have an overall width of not less than two inches. Carved areas shall have a thickness of not less than 3/8-inches. Dimensional tolerances published in recognized industry standards may be utilized.

3. Hollow core doors or doors less than 1-3/8 inches in thickness either of which are covered on the inside face with 16 gauge sheet metal attached with screws at six inches maximum centers around the perimeter. Glazing in doors shall be as set forth in Section 91.6713.

91.6709.2. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.) Unless prohibited by CBC Section 1010.2.4 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 deadlocking latch. The deadbolt and latch may be activated by one lock or by individual locks. Deadbolts shall contain hardened inserts to repel cutting tools. The lock or locks shall be key-operated from the exterior side of the door and openable from the interior side by a device which does not require a key, special knowledge, or special effort to operate.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. The latch may be omitted from doors in Group B, F, M, S Occupancies.

2. In other than residential buildings, locks may be key operated on the inside when not prohibited by the provisions of CBC Section 402.8.8 or CBC Chapter 10.

3. A swinging door greater than five feet in width may be secured as set forth in Section 91.6711.

A straight deadbolt shall have a minimum throw of one inch and an embedment of not less than 5/8 inch into the holding device receiving the projected bolt. A hook-shaped or an expanding-lug deadbolt shall have a minimum throw of 3/4-inch. All deadbolts of locks which automatically activate two or more deadbolts shall embed at least 1/2-inch into the holding devices receiving the projected bolts.

91.6709.3. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) 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 LAMC Subsection 91.6709.2.

EXCEPTIONS:

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

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

3. Manually operated hardened bolts at the top and bottom of the leaf which embed a minimum of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) into the receiving device may be used when not prohibited by Division 10, Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC.

91.6709.4. Door stops of in-swinging doors shall be of one-piece construction with the jamb, or joined by rabbet to the jamb.

91.6709.5. All pin-type hinges which are accessible from outside the secured area when the door is closed shall have non-removable hinge pins. In addition, such hinges shall have jamb studs which project through both hinge leaves and prevent removal of the door if the pin is removed from the hinge. Jamb studs shall be not less than 1/4-inch-diameter steel and shall project into the door and jamb not less than 1/4 inch.

EXCEPTION: Jamb studs are not required for hinges which are shaped to prevent removal of the door if the hinge pin is removed.

91.6709.6. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim-type cylinder locks whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise accessible to gripping tools.

91.6709.7. In wood construction, the metal strike plate for latches shall be secured to the jamb with screws and the holding device for projecting dead bolts shall be secured to the jamb and wall framing with at least two screws not less than 2-1/2 inches (64 mm) in length which penetrate the wall framing. In aluminum construction, the strike plate and dead bolt holding device shall be secured in an area of reinforced heavy gage jamb material. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,858, Eff. 1/23/98.)

(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

Sliding glass doors shall be equipped with locking devices and shall be so constructed and installed that they remain intact and engaged when subjected to the tests specified in LAMC Subsection 91.6717.1. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim-type cylinder locks whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise accessible to gripping tools. A device shall be installed in the upper channel of the moving panel to prohibit raising and removal of the moving panel from the track while in the closed position.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

Metal or wooden overhead and sliding doors shall be secured with a cylinder lock, padlock with a minimum 9/32-inch diameter hardened steel shackle bolted, hardened steel hasps, metal slide board, bolt or equivalent device unless secured by an electrical power operation.

Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim-type cylinder locks whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise accessible to gripping tools.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

Metal accordion-grate or grille-type doors shall be equipped with metal guides at the top and bottom and cylinder locks or padlocks having minimum 9/32-inch hardened steel shackles with hardened steel hasps, bolted in place. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim-type cylinder locks whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise accessible to gripping tools.