In recent years, the multifamily housing industry has seen a clear shift in how it approaches resident safety. Lawmakers are placing greater emphasis on who has access to apartments, how keys are issued and tracked, and the background screening of employees and contractors who handle them.
What was once considered a best practice is now becoming a legal expectation across the country. Property owners and managers are expected to view key management as an essential part of maintaining safety, accountability, and compliance.
Below is a look at how Florida, Washington, Virginia, and Nevada are shaping the next chapter of renter safety, along with national trends that reveal where key control laws are heading next.
Florida: Miya’s Law Sets the Standard for Key Control
Florida passed Miya’s Law on June 27, 2022, following the tragic death of Miya Marcano, a 19-year-old student who was killed after a maintenance worker used a master key to enter her apartment.
Under this law, landlords must conduct background checks for employees who have access to units. These screenings must include criminal history and sex offender registry checks across all states.
Property owners are also required to maintain a written log for each dwelling unit, documenting when keys are issued and returned. Written policies must be in place outlining how keys are stored, issued, and managed. Additionally, the required notice period for unit entry increased from 12 hours to 24 hours.
Why This Matters
Florida’s law became the catalyst for a nationwide shift in how key control is viewed and managed. By requiring documentation, background screenings, and accountability at every level, the law inspired other states to adopt similar measures aimed at protecting residents.
This proactive approach set new expectations for property managers who are now encouraged to review their key procedures, confirm employee screenings, and ensure their policies meet the growing demand for safety and transparency.
Virginia: Expanding Renter Safety Compliance
Virginia enacted its own version of Miya’s Law in 2024, applying to landlords who own more than four rental units.
The law requires background checks and fingerprinting for employees who have access to apartments. It also mandates written key management policies and logs that document the issuance and return of every key. Landlords must submit quarterly reports to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to verify compliance.
Why It’s Important
Virginia’s law marked another major step in the national movement toward stronger key control standards. By building on Florida’s foundation and adding a reporting requirement, Virginia reinforced the importance of transparency and accountability in property management.
This added level of oversight encourages property managers to implement detailed key tracking and audit procedures that safeguard residents and strengthen compliance.
Nevada: Strengthening Multifamily Key Management
In 2025, Nevada joined the growing list of states enhancing renter safety by passing its own version of Miya’s Law.
The law requires background checks for all employees and contractors who have unsupervised access to units. It also mandates written policies for key issuance, secure storage, and access tracking. Property owners must keep detailed logs that show who accessed each unit and when.
What This Means for Property Managers
Nevada’s law reinforces that key control is no longer optional but an essential part of responsible property management. The emphasis on documentation, secure access tracking, and verified background checks has prompted property teams across the country to reevaluate their own practices and align with higher safety standards.
Washington: Setting a “Reasonable Care” Standard for Key Access
Washington’s Residential Landlord Tenant Act requires landlords to maintain and safeguard master and duplicate keys with reasonable care. They must also provide adequate locks and furnish keys to tenants.
While the law is less specific than Florida’s, it establishes an important legal duty. The phrase “reasonable care” signals that an untracked or loosely managed key system could expose a landlord to significant liability.
Implications
Even without comprehensive state regulations, Washington’s approach encourages property managers to take initiative. Establishing secure key control systems before mandates arrive can reduce risk and improve resident confidence.
National Key Control Trends Property Managers Should Know
As more states strengthen renter safety laws, several key trends are emerging that point to the future of key management compliance:
Replication of the Florida model: Virginia and Nevada have already adopted similar laws, and more states are expected to follow.
Electronic access systems: Regulations increasingly apply to both traditional keys and digital access devices.
Background checks tied to access: States are linking key access privileges to employee and contractor screening.
Master key control: Master keys are a central focus due to their potential for misuse.
Insurance and liability: Insurers are beginning to consider key control compliance when assessing risk.
What to Watch For
- More states are exploring renter safety bills that include specific key control provisions.
- Enforcement and penalties are expected to strengthen in states that already have laws in place.
- Greater attention is being placed on how long key logs are retained and how vendor access is managed.
- Technology-based key tracking systems are quickly becoming the standard for compliance and risk reduction.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Key Management Compliance
The move toward stronger key control is a positive one. It reflects a shared goal among lawmakers, property professionals, and residents to create safer communities.
By evaluating your current procedures and adopting reliable key management technology, you can stay ahead of evolving regulations, reduce liability, and build trust with your residents.
Ready to simplify compliance and strengthen security?
Contact HandyTrac today to learn how our key control systems help property managers meet state requirements, enhance accountability, and ensure peace of mind for every resident.
