The most important security features to look for in a Salt Lake City apartment are controlled community access (like a gated entry), a private entrance to your unit, smart or keyless door locks, a video doorbell or camera at your door, secure parking, and good exterior lighting. Together, these features control who can reach your front door, let you see who is there, and protect your car and belongings. Townhome-style rentals often score highest because they combine several of these features in one home. When you tour, ask how each feature works day to day, not just whether it exists.
At Gabbott's Row, a private, gated townhome community in Salt Lake City, security is built into the design. Every 2- and 3-bedroom townhome includes a private entrance, a smart front-door lock, a smart video doorbell, and a private attached garage, so you get control over access to your home from the street to your living room.
What Security Features Matter Most in a Salt Lake City Apartment?
The best security setups work in layers: the community perimeter, the path to your door, the door itself, and your parking. Here is what to look for at each layer.
Controlled Community Access
A gated entry or controlled-access building limits who can drive or walk through the property. That cuts down on through-traffic, package theft, and unwanted visitors. Ask whether the gate uses resident codes, fobs, or an app, and how guest and delivery access works.
Private Entrances
In many apartment buildings, your door opens onto a shared hallway or breezeway that anyone in the building can reach. A private entrance means your front door is yours alone, with no shared corridors or stairwells between you and the outside.
Smart or Keyless Door Locks
Smart locks let you lock and unlock your door from your phone, use a keypad instead of a key, and confirm the door is locked after you leave. There are no physical keys to lose or copy, and access codes can be changed between residents.
Video Doorbells and Cameras
A smart video doorbell shows you who is at your door in real time, even when you are away. It also records activity, which helps with missed deliveries and gives you a record if anything ever goes wrong. Many renters can't install their own, so a pre-installed doorbell is a real perk.
Secure Parking
Open surface lots and street parking leave cars exposed. A private attached garage keeps your car, bikes, and ski gear behind a locked door, and lets you go straight from your car into your home without walking outside.
Lighting and Visibility
Well-lit walkways, entries, and parking areas make a community feel safer at night and discourage trouble. Visit after dark at least once before you sign a lease.
No single feature makes a home secure on its own. The strongest options combine several layers, so you are protected whether you are home, at work, or traveling.
Why Are Townhomes Often More Secure Than Apartments?
Townhomes often offer stronger everyday security than traditional apartments because fewer people share your entry points. Here is how the two typically compare.
| Security Factor | Typical Apartment | Typical Townhome |
|---|---|---|
| Front door access | Shared hallway or breezeway | Private exterior entrance |
| Parking | Open lot, street, or shared garage | Often a private attached garage |
| Shared walls and spaces | Neighbors above, below, and beside | Fewer shared walls, no shared corridors |
| Package delivery | Lobby, mailroom, or hallway | Your own doorstep, often with a doorbell camera |
| Getting from car to home | Walk through lots, stairs, or elevators | Step from the garage into your home |
Fewer Shared Access Points
With no common hallways, stairwells, or elevators, there are fewer places for strangers to linger and fewer people passing your door each day.
Direct Garage Access
An attached garage is one of the biggest security upgrades a renter can get. You can unload groceries, kids, or gear behind a closed door, which matters most on dark winter evenings in Salt Lake City.
If security is high on your list, a townhome in a gated community gives you the privacy of a house with the managed perimeter of a rental community. For a deeper look, see our post on townhomes vs. apartments in Salt Lake City.
Is Salt Lake City Getting Safer?
Yes. Salt Lake City's overall crime rate has been falling, and city leaders have made public safety a top priority. Here are the latest trends from local and national reporting.
| Measure | Change | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall reported crime | Down 4.6%, lowest level in over 8 years | 2025 vs. 2024 | KSL |
| Homicides | Down 27% (and 47% over six years) | 2024 to 2025 | FOX 13 |
| Robberies | Down nearly 28% | First half of 2026 vs. 2025 | Axios Salt Lake City |
| Aggravated assaults | Down 12% | First half of 2026 vs. 2025 | Axios Salt Lake City |
What Is Driving the Improvement?
- A citywide public safety plan. Mayor Erin Mendenhall launched a plan in 2025 focused on crime and homelessness, and appointed Brian Redd as chief of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
- Focus on repeat offenders. Programs like Project CONNECT coordinate city, county, and state agencies to address the people who cycle through the justice system most often.
- Investment in technology. The police department has requested funding for tools like an expanded drone program and license plate readers.
- Neighborhood-level collaboration. New neighborhood safety collaboratives aim to address the specific needs of different parts of the city.
Why Home Security Features Still Matter
Like every major city, Salt Lake City sees more property crime, such as package theft and car break-ins, than violent crime. That is exactly what home security features are built to prevent. A gated community, a private garage, and a video doorbell address the most common risks renters face in any urban area, from Chicago to Denver to Salt Lake City.
The takeaway: Salt Lake City is trending in the right direction, and choosing a home with strong built-in security adds another layer of peace of mind.
What Security Features Does Gabbott's Row Offer?
Gabbott's Row checks every major box on the security list. Each feature works together so you control access to your home at every step.
A Private, Gated Community
Gabbott's Row is a private, gated community, so access to the property is limited to residents and their guests. That means less through-traffic, quieter streets inside the community, and more confidence when you come and go.
Private Entrances
Every townhome has its own private entrance. There are no shared hallways, lobbies, or breezeways between your front door and the outside.
Smart Front-Door Locks
Smart locks on every front door let you skip the keys, lock up from your phone, and confirm your home is secure whether you are at work downtown or on the slopes for the weekend.
Smart Video Doorbells
A smart video doorbell comes installed at every townhome. See who is at the door, talk to visitors, and keep an eye on deliveries from anywhere.
Private Attached Garages
Each residence includes a private attached garage. Park your car, store your bike or ski gear, and walk straight inside without stepping out into the weather or the dark.
With all five features in every home, Gabbott's Row offers the kind of layered security most renters have to piece together on their own. Explore our amenities to see everything else that comes with living here.
How Can You Check a Rental's Security Before You Sign a Lease?
A listing can say "secure" without explaining what that means. Use your tour to see the features in action.
- Test the entry. Ask how the gate works for residents, guests, and delivery drivers.
- Walk the path to your door. Note whether you pass through shared hallways, stairwells, or open parking lots.
- Ask about the locks. Find out whether locks are smart or keyed, and whether codes are reset between residents.
- Check for a doorbell camera. Ask if it comes installed and whether you can view it from your phone.
- Look at parking. Confirm whether you get a private garage or an assigned spot in a shared lot.
- Visit at night. See how well walkways, entries, and parking areas are lit after dark.
- Ask about package delivery. Know where packages land and who can access them.
Simple Habits That Add Security
- Close and lock your garage door every time, even for quick trips.
- Use renters insurance to protect your belongings.
- Keep valuables out of sight in your car.
- Turn on doorbell notifications so you know when packages arrive.
The best way to judge security is in person. Schedule a tour of Gabbott's Row to see the gate, garages, and smart features for yourself.
Find a Secure Townhome in Salt Lake City
When you compare rentals in Salt Lake City, look for layered security: controlled community access, a private entrance, a smart lock, a video doorbell, and secure parking. Those features protect against the most common everyday risks and give you control over who reaches your door.
Gabbott's Row brings all of them together in modern 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes, just minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and TRAX light rail. Browse our floor plans to find the layout that fits your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important security feature in an apartment?
Controlled access is the most important security feature, because it limits who can reach your home in the first place. Look for a gated community or controlled-access building, then add a private entrance and a smart lock for protection at your own door.
Are gated communities in Salt Lake City safer?
Gated communities add a meaningful layer of security by limiting through-traffic and unwanted visitors. Combined with features like private garages and video doorbells, a gate helps prevent common issues like package theft and car break-ins.
Are townhomes safer than apartments?
Townhomes are often more secure than traditional apartments because they have private entrances and fewer shared spaces. Many, like those at Gabbott's Row, also include attached garages, so you can go from your car to your home without walking outside.
Is Salt Lake City a safe place to live?
Salt Lake City's crime rate has been trending down, with overall crime reaching its lowest level in more than eight years in 2025. Robberies and aggravated assaults fell again in the first half of 2026. Learn more in our guide to living in Salt Lake City in 2026.
Do smart locks make an apartment more secure?
Yes. Smart locks remove the risk of lost or copied keys, let you lock your door remotely, and show whether your door is locked. Codes can also be reset between residents.
Can renters install their own video doorbell?
It depends on your lease, and many properties don't allow it. Choosing a community where video doorbells come pre-installed, like Gabbott's Row, avoids the hassle entirely.
Does Gabbott's Row have garages?
Yes. Every townhome at Gabbott's Row includes a private attached garage for secure parking and extra storage.
How do I schedule a tour of Gabbott's Row?
You can schedule a tour online or call the leasing office. Touring in person is the best way to see the gated entry, garages, and smart home features.
Sources
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Salt Lake City crime down to lowest level in nearly a decade, KSL, Dec. 11, 2025
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If crime is down, why is the Salt Lake City Police Department asking for more money?, FOX 13, Jan. 2026
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Salt Lake City sees decline in robberies and assaults in 2026, Axios Salt Lake City, Aug. 11, 2026
