Division of Hotels and Restaurants

This page contains helpful information about elevators. To apply for an elevator-related license using a paper application, please click this APPLY FOR link above. To renew or maintain your license, please click this RENEW YOUR LICENSE link above.

Applying for Elevator Certificates of Operation

Once the elevator company turns the conveyance over to the owner, the owner is must apply for the initial license to operate, also called a Certificate of Operation. The bureau will issue an initial Certificate of Operation to the new owner. The owner is responsible for maintaining the license, scheduling inspections, and providing the bureau with current mailing information.

If your elevator operations are within one of the bureau's contracted jurisdictions, please contact the appropriate jurisdiction for permits, licensing, inspections, and other services provided.

Before the bureau may issue a new or renewal Certificate of Operation, owners or operators must perform the following:

1. Inspection

All conveyances, unless exempted by Florida Statutes, must pass an inspection with no violations each year before the bureau can issue a Certificate of Operation. A current, satisfactory inspection performed by a certified, private, third-party inspector is required for initial licensure and each annual renewal. See What Every Elevator Owner Needs to Know and our inspections website for more information on inspections.

Two-Stop Elevator Inspection Exemption – Florida law exempts two-stop elevators with a current full-service maintenance contract from the annual inspection requirement. You must notify the bureau of the service maintenance contract if you believe you qualify for this exemption by submitting a statement that you have a full-service maintenance contract with a registered elevator company that is performing all required maintenance and testing. A copy of a bill statement for a service maintenance contract does not qualify you for the 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.

2. Application

Obtain and complete the appropriate application form. A separate license application is required for each conveyance.

Renewal notices are mailed to the mailing address on record.

3. License Fee

Beginning March 1, 2008, the license fee for elevators is $75 and is no longer based upon elevator type or service maintenance contract. This fee must be paid before a license will be issued. Please make checks payable to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. For faster processing, please write the license number of the elevator on the check. If you own more than one elevator, you may write one check for all and enclose of all your elevator license numbers with the combined check.For assistance in determining the correct license fee, please contact the department at 850.487.1395.

If you have changed or acquired a new service maintenance company during the past year, you are still required by law to notify the Bureau of Elevator Safety prior to renewing your license. .

Note: If the elevator company paid the initial license fee, the owner will not be charged a fee for the initial license, but will be responsible for the annual renewal fee.

4. Submit Application and Fees

Send the completed permit application, all required documentation, and the appropriate fee to:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Division of Hotels and Restaurants
Bureau of Elevator Safety
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0783

Most applications are processed within two weeks, but for planning purposes please allow 3-4 weeks for processing.

5. License Renewal

All licenses expire on July 31 each year and must be renewed annually. The bureau mails renewal notices to the mailing address on record. The licensee is responsible for notifying the bureau of an address change. The renewal notice, the appropriate fee, and any required documentation must be returned to the bureau by July 31. Owners or operators who do not renew by the expiration date and continue using the vertical conveyance are operating without a license and subject to administrative actions by the bureau. Any license renewal postmarked or paid on or after August 1 will be assessed a $50 late fee. The bureau posts a listing of all open renewals for the convenience of its licensees on the elevator renewals webpage.

6. Change of Owner / Operator / Licensee

A change in the owner, operator or licensee requires completion of an application for a Certificate of Operation. It is the responsibility of the new owner, operator, or licensee to notify the bureau of the change and obtain the required license. A license fee is not required for a change of owner application if renewal is not required. The new licensee will be responsible for annual inspections and renewal.

7. Reactivating Sealed Elevators

Reactivating a sealed elevator requires an inspection, application, and fee as described above and an unsealing visit conducted by the bureau. Contact the department at 850.487.1395 to schedule the unsealing visit.