Smart locks for St. Johns County homes and rentals

Where smart locks earn their keep here

Two kinds of St. Johns County property benefit most from smart locks. Vacation rentals at the beaches can issue each guest a code that expires at checkout, so no one leaves with a key. Families in the newer neighborhoods up north use keypads and apps to let in kids after school, dog walkers and delivery drivers without hiding a spare.

Rental codes that expire

For a condo in St. Augustine Beach or a house in Vilano Beach, a smart lock that supports scheduled codes lets you or your manager create a code for each stay. Cleaners and maintenance get their own. When a guest checks out, their code simply stops working. Keep a physical key for yourself as a backup.

New homes up north

Houses in Nocatee, St. Johns and World Golf Village usually have modern, standard door preparations, which makes installing most smart deadbolts straightforward. The door from the garage into the house is a popular spot for a keypad. Pair the install with a rekey of any remaining conventional locks so the whole house is under your control.

Coast, heat and batteries

Near the ocean, keypads face salt air and driving rain; everywhere in the county they face summer heat. Choose a model with a weather rating that suits an exposed door, change batteries on a schedule rather than waiting for the warning, and ask the locksmith about locks with a key override in case the electronics fail.

Historic district facades

On a building in one of St. Augustine's Historic Preservation districts, a visible exterior keypad may be treated as an exterior change. Ask the city before installing one. Some owners use a smart lock on a rear or interior door instead, or choose a model whose outside face looks like an ordinary deadbolt and is operated by phone.

Wi-Fi, hubs and who holds the admin account

A rental owner living out of state wants to change codes remotely, which usually means a lock connected to Wi-Fi or a hub. A family in St. Johns may be happy with a keypad that never touches the internet. Decide which you need before buying. Whoever sets the lock up holds the admin account, so for rentals make sure that's the owner, not a manager who might leave.

Need something else in St. Johns County?

See everything on the St. Johns County locksmith page, or browse Florida locksmiths.

Want the background first? Read our guide: Smart Lock Installation.