
Bureau of Elevator Safety
The Bureau of Elevator Safety works to ensure elevators and escalators throughout the State of Florida remain the safest mode of transportation by enforcing elevator safety laws and licensing and regulating industry professionals, elevators, escalators, and other vertical and inclined conveyance devices such as dumbwaiters, moving walks, stairway chairlifts and inclined or vertical wheelchair lifts.
“Elevators, escalators and moving walks are the safest form of transportation. Each day in the U.S. and Canada this equipment moves the equivalent of double the entire U.S. and Canadian population – over 210 billion passengers each year. Very few accidents happen and most of these can be avoided.”–Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation
DBPR Online Services
The Division encourages elevator license holders to create a DBPR account to manage their license. New licensees should begin by applying online when possible, most elevator applications are available through our online services (Apply Now). With an account owners can perform routine license maintenance through our website, including renewals, renewal invoices, payments, mailing address updates, duplicate licenses and new applications. An account also enables electronic payments via our DBPR mobile app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Go to My Account and set up your account now. You can find a Continuing Education Course here.
Online Accounts – Video Help
Notice of Initial Acceptance Inspection
Permit holders are required to notify the division of the date and time of initial acceptance inspections at least five days prior to its occurrence. To make this process easy and efficient Notice of Initial Acceptance Inspection can now be submitted online. If the inspection is rescheduled, the permit holder should notify us as soon as the new date and time are determined using this same online form.
Getting started with the Bureau of Elevator Safety
Click on the license type below for more information:
Permit to Install or Relocate an Elevator
Florida law requires every registered elevator company to have a permit issued by the Bureau of Elevator Safety before installing or relocating any type of vertical conveyance licensed by the bureau. Conveyances located in and serving only one family residence are not regulated by the bureau and do not require a permit from the bureau. Only a qualified agent employed by the Registered Elevator Companies can apply for permits. Permits are not issued to owners or operators of vertical conveyances.Apply Now More Information
Certificates of Operation (elevators, escalators and other vertical conveyances)
Once elevator construction is completed and the elevator company inspects and turns the conveyance over to the owner, the owner then must apply for the annual license to operate, also called a Certificate of Operation. The bureau will issue a Certificate of Operation annually upon receipt of a renewal application to the new owner. The owner is responsible for maintaining the license, annually scheduling inspections to ensure safe operation, and providing the bureau with current contact and mailing information.
Permit to Alter an Elevator
Florida law requires registered elevator companies to have a permit issued by the Bureau of Elevator Safety before altering any elevators, escalator or other vertical conveyance licensed by the bureau. Conveyances located in and serving only one family residence are not regulated by the bureau and do not require a permit. Only a qualified agent employed by a registered elevator company can apply for a permit. Permits are not issued to owners or operators of vertical conveyances.
Registered Elevator Company
A registered elevator company is a company authorized by the Bureau of Elevator Safety to construct, install, inspect, maintain, or repair any elevator, escalator or other vertical conveyance in Florida. Registered elevator companies must employ at least one Certified Elevator Inspector or person with a current Certificate of Competency.
Certificate of Competency and Certified Elevator Technician
A Certificate of Competency is a credential that certifies the holder has received training required to perform the duties of a Certified Elevator Technician. You must hold a Florida Certificate of Competency before you can register as a Certified Elevator Technician. Only Certified Elevator Technicians are allowed to construct, install, inspect, maintain or repair elevators, escalators and other vertical conveyances in the State of Florida.
Certified Elevator Inspector
A credential required by state law, certifying the holder has received the training necessary to construct, install, inspect, maintain or repair vertical conveyances and currently holds a qualified elevator inspector credential as prescribed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
When an elevator owner is unable to comply with cited violations due to hardship, a variance may be requested. The variance request must meet the requirements of Section 120.542, Florida Statutes. In order for a variance to be granted the petitioner must present the following:
- The specific codes the variance is requested for (not the violation codes from the inspection sheet but the actual rules those codes represent)
- A demonstrated hardship if they are required to meet the code
- How the petitioner intends to meet the intent of those specific codes (a variance cannot be granted unless the intent of the rule is met in some other way)
A petition for variance which does not meet these requirements will be denied.
There are two types of variance requests, routine and emergency. The bureau responds to routine requests within 90 days of receipt. An emergency petition must be responded to within 30 days, but you must include justification why a response is needed within 30 days. Without justification, the petition may be deemed a non-emergency and treated as a routine petition.
Important Information for New Installations
If you are applying for a variance for a new elevator installation, you will need to apply for a permit before the division will issue an order granting the variance. The division will notify you that the variance will be approved and provide the variance number to include on the permit application. Once the permit application is submitted and an elevator license number issued, the Petition for a Variance will be completed and filed. The elevator license number assigned upon application for the permit will be included in the order granting the variance.
Instructions
You may file a petition for a variance as described in Chapter 120.542, F.S., or you may use the form provided by the bureau in Microsoft Word or fill-in PDF formats.
- Routine or Emergency – Complete the form as indicated and specify if the request is a routine or emergency. Failure to make a selection in this section will result in your petition being treated as routine request.
- Variance Duration – If you only need time beyond the statutory limit of 90 days to comply with the rule mark temporary and indicate the date which you will be in compliance. If you cannot comply with the rule at all mark permanent.
- Petitioner – Indicate your name and address in the spaces provided. A person and or company name must be indicated, do not put the name of the building as a variance cannot be granted to the building. If you are representing the owner you must also attach a letter form the owner indicating you are authorized to act on their behalf.
- Building Name/Address – Fill in the name and address of the building. Please be sure this matches the name and address on the license.
- License Numbers – Fill in the license numbers of all the elevators you wish to be covered by this variance request. If needed, attach additional sheets with the information. Only elevators listed will be covered by the variance, if it is granted.
- Rule(s) – List all rules that you wish the variance to exempt you from. If you do not know the rules specifically, consult the inspector you hired and who cited you. If your inspector cannot provide you with that information you may wish to hire another inspector or an elevator consultant. Your elevator service company may also be able to help you.
- Explanation – Explain why you cannot meet the rules listed above. Variances can only be granted when a documented hardship can be demonstrated. Variances will not be granted simply because you do not wish to upgrade your elevator or that it is working fine as is.
- Hardship – Describe the hardship in sufficient detail to allow the Department to determine it is truly a hardship.
- Emergency Justification – If you are requesting an emergency variance, provide an explanation why you cannot wait 90 days for a response.
- Signature – Sign and date your request and provide a telephone number if you wish to be contacted by phone if any additional information is needed rather than by mail. If additional information is needed, your variance request is placed on hold until that information is received which can delay your request beyond the 30 or 90 days. Failure to respond to a request for additional information will result in your petition being denied.
Two-Stop Elevator Inspection Exemption – Florida law exempts certain two-stop elevators that are covered by a full-service maintenance contract from the annual inspection requirement. The contract must meet the minimum requirements as detailed in Florida law.
For the purpose of qualifying for the two-stop exemption, the service maintenance contract must include:
- Routine examination;
- Lubrication, cleaning, adjustment, replacement of parts;
- Periodic safety tests; and
- Any other service, repair, and maintenance sufficient to ensure the safe operation of the elevator.
You must notify the division of the service maintenance contract if you believe you qualify for this exemption. You can submit a DBPR Form HR 5023-060, Verification of Service Maintenance Contract form (Word/PDF) or a signed statement containing the same information and attestation statement as verification of a full-service maintenance contract with a current registered elevator company that is performing all required maintenance and testing. A copy of a “Test Only” periodic test witness report, the contract, or a bill statement for your contract does not qualify you for the exemption.
Florida law requires annual verification of the service maintenance contract to maintain the two-stop elevator inspection exemption. Additional information on the two-stop exemption and service maintenance contracts is available in Chapter 399, Florida Statutes and Chapter 61C-5, Florida Administrative Code.
Quick Links
Need Help?
All requests for public records, complaints, forms, and applications for licenses can be obtained by contacting the Customer Contact Center.
Steven von Bodungen, Director
Division of Hotels and Restaurants
Bureau of Elevator Safety
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1013
Telephone: 850.487.1395
Email: dhr.elevators@myfloridalicense.com