Division of Hotels and Restaurants

Elevator Licensing FAQ

All information on this page is current and was last reviewed by the division on July 31, 2012.

1. Q: How much does an elevator certificate of operation cost?

A: The license fee for an elevator or any vertical conveyance is $75 annually.

2. Q: How do I renew my certificate of operation (license) for my elevator?

A: All certificates of operation are renewable annually before the 1st  of August.  Reminder notices are sent approximately 60-90 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate. In addition to the annual license fee, an elevator must have annual inspection with no violations cited within the past 12 months. Contact the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 for further information and to make payments by credit card.

3. Q: How can I get a duplicate renewal notice for my certificate of operation (license) for my elevator?

A: Mail your request to the Bureau of Elevator Safety, 1940 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1013 or contact us by e-mail at dhr.elevators@dbpr.state.fl.us to request a duplicate renewal notice.  Be sure to include the license/serial number and physical location address of the elevator with your request.

4. Q: How do I renew my certificate of operation (license) for my elevator, if I am delinquent?

A: All certificates of operation (licenses) are renewable annually by the 1st  of August. Reminder notices are not sent if the account is delinquent.  See the elevator web page for further information on delinquent accounts or refer to the List of Elevator License Renewals and Delinquency Status report.

In addition to the annual license fee, an elevator must have a current annual inspection with no violations cited within the past 12 months. Contact the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 for further information and to make payments by credit card.

5. Q: Do I have to pay a late fee for my certificate of operation (license) for my elevator, if I am delinquent?

A: Yes. A $50 late fee is applied if the certificate of operation is not renewed by the 1st of August. Renewal requires the annual license fee and a current annual inspection with no violations cited within the past 12 months.

6. Q: I tried to pay online again this year but the system will not accept my payment, why?

A: If you paid last year by credit card but did not successfully renew because of a missing or failed inspection, you can not make another credit card payment. You must mail in a check for your payment. Send your payment to: Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Bureau of Revenue, 1940 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0783. Be sure to include the license/serial number on the check or money order.

7. Q: How can I get a duplicate certificate of operation (license) for my elevator?

A: Mail your request to the Bureau of Elevator Safety, 1940 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1013 or contact us by e-mail at dhr.elevators@dbpr.state.fl.us to request a duplicate license.  Be sure to include the license/serial number and physical location address of the elevator with your request.

8. Q: How can I correct the business or mailing information on my certificate of operation (license)?

A: If you are currently renewing a certificate of operation, you may indicate changes or corrections on the back of your renewal application. Otherwise, mail your corrections on letterhead to the Bureau of Elevator Safety, 1940 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1013, or e-mail the bureau at dhr.elevators@dbpr.state.fl.us.  Be sure to include the license/serial number and physical location address of the elevator on your request. You may also visit  MyFloridaLicense.com to correct or change the business address.  You must have your Personal Identification Number (PIN) for access to your account.  Otherwise, call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 for assistance with a change to a business name or owner information.

9. Q: How can I correct my license physical location address?

Our system does not allow you to change your license location address. Contact the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 to request the bureau send an inspector to verify your location address and submit the proper documentation to make changes to the licensing database.

10. Q: Where do I send payment for my elevator certificate of operation?

A: Send your payment to Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Bureau of Revenue, 1940 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0783. Be sure to include the license/serial number for each payment on the check or money order.  To avoid delay for locations that have multiple elevators and payments, send a separate check for each renewal fee to be paid.

11. Q: Where can I find information to ensure I have a current inspection on file for my certificate of operation (license)?

A: You may contact your elevator inspection service or review the list of inspections on file on our elevator inspection website.  Multiple years are published in Excel format for download. Each fiscal year contains statewide all inspections completed and recorded in LicenseEase going back to Fiscal Year 2005-2006.

12. Q: How do I report that the certificate of operation (license) is expired in my building's elevator?

A: Contact the building owner or manager. The certificate frame is often "vandal resistant" and requires special tools to install the updated certificate.  A duplicate certificate of operation must be requested for display.

13. Q: How do I report that the elevator has problems or has broken down?

A: If there is a maintenance or repair problem, contact the building owner or manager. If there is a safety concern that is not being attended to by the elevator maintenance company, call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.

14. Q: How can I get my elevator inspected?

A: Elevators must be inspected annually as required by Florida statute. It is the owner’s responsibility to arrange the annual inspection. To locate a licensed inspector, you may review the list of professional certified elevator inspectors available on our download webpage. If an immediate inspection is needed for valid safety concerns, you may request it by calling the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.  If a second opinion for an inspection is desired, owners have the option to hire an elevator inspector to review recent inspections.

15. Q: How do I get an answer to my questions about the Elevator Codes?

A: If you have a question concerning your elevator, contact your elevator maintenance company first. A list of the Violation Codes are available online on our webpage. If you need additional assistance, mail your request to the Bureau of Elevator Safety, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1013, or e-mail the bureau at  dhr.elevators@dbpr.state.fl.us .

16. Q: What are the fire safety requirements for Elevators?

A: Fire safety requirements for elevators are very extensive and includes nearly 400 pages of the Fire Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators that deal with this subject.  The NFPA Life Safety, National Electrical Code and National Fire Alarm Code contain requirements regarding elevators and fire safety. Call your elevator maintenance company, elevator contractor or your local fire authority office for assistance.

17. Q: What are the requirements for two-way communication in an elevator?

A: All elevators require a means of two-way communication to a point outside the elevator.

18. Q: How can I get information for the certificate of competency?

A: Information concerning the certificate of competency can be found on our FAQ webpage.

19. Q: Can I get a report that lists the elevators in an area?

A: A report of all elevators licensed by the State of Florida is available on our download webpage.

20. Q: How can I unseal, or reactivate, my sealed elevator?

A: The elevator owner must request the elevator be unsealed, or reactivated, by submitting an application for a certificate of operation. This application is available on our APPLY link and may be e-mailed to the bureau at dhr.elevators@dbpr.state.fl.us. An inspector employed by the bureau or one of our contracted jurisdictions must then unseal the elevator. The public cannot use the elevator until the bureau, or contracted jurisdiction, receive a satisfactory inspection with no violations and a temporary certificate of operation or current certificate of operation is issued and displayed in the elevator.

21. Q: How do I obtain a temporary certificate of operation for my elevator?

A: A temporary certificate of operation can be issued at the time of inspection by a certified elevator inspector provided the elevator receives a satisfactory inspection with no violations.

22. Q: How long is a temporary certificate of operation valid?

A: A temporary certificate of operation is valid for 60 days. A current certificate of operation issued by the department should be obtained prior to the expiration of the temporary certificate of operation.

23. Q: Where can I view the results of an elevator inspection?

A: Elevator inspection results can be viewed on the bureau's website. Inspection reports for elevators located in one of our five contracted jurisdictions are maintained by those jurisdictions. You should contact the appropriate contracted jurisdiction about those elevator inspections.