Elevator Safety – Licensing

What every Elevator owner needs to know

Under Chapter 399, Florida Statutes, known as the Florida Elevator Safety Act, the owner/operator is responsible for ensuring the elevator meets all safety requirements on an annual basis. It is the owner’s direct responsibility to schedule an annual safety inspection, called a routine inspection, to ensure the safe operation of their elevators before obtaining a Certificate of Operation.

Elevator maintenance companies complete the required annual safety tests and may schedule the inspection upon request of the elevator owner/operator. Each elevator owner/operator is responsible for ensuring that their elevator is in compliance with the Elevator Safety Code. Your elevator inspector or service company can explain the inspection process and required tests.

The required annual safety inspection must be completed by a Florida Certified Elevator Inspector. Inspection Reports can be submitted electronically or by mail. You can search for a Florida Certified Elevator Inspector on the department’s Licensing Portal. A list of Florida Certified Elevator Inspectors is available online on the department’s public records page. Elevator Inspection Reports (DBPR Form HR 5023-003) may also be found online on the division’s forms and publications page.

Chapter 399, Florida Statutes, specifically Sections 399.061 and 399.07, explain the requirements for annual inspections, correction of violations, and payment of fees in order to be licensed. You may view the statute online from our administrative rules and statutes page.

Two factors can prohibit license renewal: a failed annual (routine) inspection and/or non-payment of fees. A routine inspection for safety must be completed within the previous 12 months and contain no violations. Any violations cited on an inspection must be corrected within 90 days of the inspection and a callback inspection must be performed to verify all violations are corrected.

Remember, to become a licensed elevator operator in the State of Florida you must:

1. Pay the annual fee.
2. Have a current satisfactory inspection performed by a certified elevator inspector.

More information on applying for a Certificate of Operation is available on our website.

Delinquent Elevator Licenses and Renewals

Certificates of Operation expire on August 1 each year and must be renewed annually.

Renewal notifications and reminder emails are sent to the email address associated with the owner’s DBPR Online Services account. To receive these notifications, owners should create a DBPR Online Services account and ensure that all elevator licenses they own or operate are linked to that account. Owners are also responsible for maintaining a current email address to receive renewal notices and other important communications.

Owners or operators who continue to operate a vertical conveyance after the Certificate of Operation has expired may be subject to administrative action under Chapter 399, Florida Statutes. Renewals received on or after August 1 are subject to a $50 late fee.

Online Accounts – Video Help

• Create an Account / Espanol
• Link a License / Espanol
• Self-Print License / Espanol

Outstanding Renewal Requirements

The Bureau of Elevator Safety publishes a weekly report identifying elevators with delinquent Certificates of Operation and any outstanding renewal requirements.

List of Elevators with Delinquent Licenses and Outstanding Requirements

The report identifies whether an elevator has outstanding:

• Renewal fees
• Inspection requirements

To locate your elevator, search the report using the elevator license number. You may also search by owner name or address, although these searches may be less accurate due to variations in data entry.

If your elevator is not listed in the report, the Certificate of Operation has either already been issued or the renewal is currently being processed. If you recently submitted a payment or inspection, please allow time for processing before checking the report again.

This report is provided as a courtesy and is updated weekly. Information may change as payments are received and inspection requirements are satisfied.

Sealed / Inactive Elevators

Owners may request that an elevator be placed in Inactive status when it is removed from service, such as when a building is vacant or the elevator requires significant repairs. Only a State Elevator Inspector employed by the Division can place an elevator into Inactive status. Elevators in Inactive status are subject to different licensing and renewal requirements. To request Inactive status, contact the Bureau of Elevator Safety.

While an elevator is in Inactive status:

• Annual inspections are not required.
• A Certificate of Operation is not required.
• The elevator must remain out of service until it has been properly returned to operation.

When the owner is ready to return the elevator to service, the Bureau of Elevator Safety must be contacted before the elevator is placed back into operation. Additional requirements, including inspections, applications, and fees, may apply. If ownership has changed while the elevator was inactive, a Change of Owner and Certificate of Operation application is required. For complete information about placing an elevator in or removing it from Inactive status, please see the Bureau’s Placing Your Elevator in Seal/Inactive Status publication.