Building/Elevator Owners

A State safety inspection is a multipurpose activity. An annual reinspection allows the Safety Engineer the opportunity to review the activity and maintenance of the device and to see that the applicable Safety Orders, including whatever periodic tests that may be required, are complied with.

The safety of the general public as well as the conveyance maintenance/repair personnel is paramount.

Elevators in a multiunit residential building serving no more than two dwelling units that are not accessible to the public shall be inspected by the Division upon completion of installation prior to being placed in service, or after alterations prior to being returned to service, but are not inspected on an annual basis.

Private residence elevators and elevators on Federal property are not under the jurisdiction of the State of California. However, if the conveyance is on Federal property but leased from the government by a private party then the conveyance is under the jurisdiction of the Division.

To schedule a reinspection up to 30 days prior to the permit expiration date submit a Re-inspection Request Form to the Elevator District Office associated with the address of the location of your elevator, you can receive a copy of your request for a reinspection of your conveyance. Please be prepared to make this request by including the actual address and/or conveyance number which is on your current permit or any associated paperwork from the Division. Please provide a fax number for the receipt of this request which will fulfill your responsibility until acted upon. This can be presented to any interested party that is requesting from you the status of your action to recertify the permit to operate. The request to inspect your conveyance will be acted upon in the timeliest response possible.

If an inspector finds requirements that need to be corrected on your conveyance, you will receive a Preliminary Order (PO) from the district office. The address and phone number of that office are listed on the PO. You can call that office to verify correctness. Once the repairs and corrections have been made you must send the required written notice of corrections to the specified district office. If your elevator service company has stated that they will contact the Division with this written documentation, please note that the responsibility for this written notification of compliance of all requirements is yours, and do not rely on any other agreement. Some of the requirements are building-related and the elevator company does not clear them.

Note: If you have a Group III elevator installed after October 25, 1998, or a Group IV elevator installed on or after May 1, 2008, one of the tests required (Fire and other Emergency conditions) will mean that you have to coordinate your alarm testing company with the elevator service company in order to arrange for both to be present in order to test the sensors in your building related to the elevator (smoke sensors and heat detectors). These sensors shall be activated while the service person is in the elevator in order to confirm that the elevator responds according to the applicable codes.

If the district office does not receive written notification that the requirements have been corrected within 30 days, an Order To Correct Unsafe Conditions Or To Show Cause will be mailed to you indicating that you have 30 days to provide written proof that you have complied with the Preliminary Order or Show Cause why you need an extension. If written compliance is not received within 30 days and an extension is not granted, an Order Prohibiting Use will be issued and the conveyance will be shut down for non-compliance. An additional fee of $675 will be assessed for this procedure.

After you receive your Preliminary Order, you will receive a separate invoice for the fees associated with the inspection and permit. The invoice must be paid within 60 days. If the invoice is not paid within 60 days, a 100% penalty will be added and you will receive an additional invoice for these new fees. Upon receipt of the penalty fee invoice, you have 30 additional days to pay both the fees and penalties or the Division will issue an Order Prohibiting Use and the conveyance will be shut down for non-payment. This procedure will incur an additional fee.
Payment information

  1. Imminent Hazard — if an imminent (unsafe) hazard is found during an inspection, the conveyance will be immediately shut down for safety reasons until the hazard is corrected.
  2. Non-compliance — if you receive a Preliminary Order after an inspection and do not comply with the requirements within the specified time period the conveyance will be shut down.
  3. Non-payment — if you do not pay the invoice in a timely manner or do not pay the penalties associated with non-payment the conveyance will be shut down.
  4. Illegal device — if upon inspection, the Division finds that you are operating an illegal device not covered by the Elevator Safety Orders, the unit will be shut down.
May 2015