Find the latest information on Florida Elevator Code, laws, and safety standards. Our directories are updated monthly and include website links to help you quickly find the elevator codes and regulations for the state of Florida (FL)

Florida elevator codes impose a responsibility on building owners and property managers to adhere to specific requirements within elevators, ensuring the safety of all occupants. Failure to comply with these codes can result in penalties and potential legal action. While the particulars of the Florida elevator code may differ at the state and local levels, three primary codes govern elevator safety: the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the International Building Code (IBC), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Florida Elevator Code Authority (FL)

Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Customer Contact Center
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Florida Elevator Code – Elevator Phone Requirements ASME A17.1 & IBC**

• Answer by live authorized personnel – no automated answering

• Location identification without voice communication

• Monitoring the status of local telephone lines and issuing local alerts

**Florida also follows IBC 2018, which incorporates extra requirements for new elevators/construction projects

If your elevator travels over 60 feet. A two-way communication system will be installed in the elevator that provides both visible text and audible modes per code requirements. If you’re modernizing the elevator to ensure it complies with current codes, it’s advisable to consult your local Florida elevator code authority for guidance on the applicable regulations.

Compliance oversight and inspections: What Florida expects from owners, property teams, and elevator contractors. The Florida elevator code is enforced by the state Bureau of Elevator Safety, which regulates elevators, escalators, and other conveyances, as well as the professionals who install, maintain, and inspect them. Florida elevator code compliance is not just about equipment. It is also about keeping your licensing, inspection records, and ownership details current so that your site remains inspection-ready. For property managers, the cleanest path is a repeatable monthly routine that tracks certificate status, inspection due dates, and any open deficiencies across every address and cab.

Inspection submissions and what is changing: How to avoid delays as reporting goes digital. Florida elevator code programs are shifting away from older paper-style inspection reporting, with electronic submittal becoming the standard through DBPR online accounts. That matters because missed or rejected submissions can slow renewals and create avoidable compliance stress. Florida elevator code compliance improves when your team knows who submits what, by when, and where the confirmation lives. If you manage many sites, treat inspection reporting like a workflow, not a one-time event, with simple checklists and a single folder for every inspection and correction record.

Permits and initial acceptance inspections: The steps that matter for new installs, relocations, and major work. Florida elevator code requirements put permit activity primarily on registered elevator companies, not building owners, for installing, relocating, or altering conveyances. Owners still play a critical role by coordinating access, scheduling, and readiness for the initial acceptance inspection that must happen before the unit is placed into normal service. If you are modernizing, plan the permit timeline early, so your elevator work does not stall at the finish line. The smoother the permit and acceptance process, the faster you can turn the elevator over without last-minute surprises.

Certificates of operation and renewals: How to keep operating authority current and visible. Florida elevator code requires an active Certificate of Operation for most regulated conveyances, and operating with an expired certificate can create immediate exposure during audits, complaints, or scheduled inspections. The Florida elevator code also ties renewal to a current satisfactory inspection, so the operational playbook is simple. Confirm the certificate expiration date, schedule inspections early, clear deficiencies fast, then renew on time. In multi-site portfolios, a shared tracker and a single owner for renewals can prevent the common problem of “everyone assumed someone else handled it.”

Service maintenance contracts and inspection exemptions: Where contracts become part of compliance. The Florida elevator code includes an annual inspection requirement in most cases, with limited exemptions that depend on the elevator type and a qualifying full-service maintenance contract. That puts contract management directly on the compliance critical path. Your contract needs to cover the right scope, your verification needs to be filed when required, and cancellations need to be handled immediately, so your inspection plan adjusts. When this is organized, owners and contractors spend less time arguing about paperwork and more time keeping equipment safe and reliable.

Emergency communication readiness: A practical way to reduce inspection risk tied to elevator phones. Florida elevator code expectations around emergency communications push owners to ensure passengers can reach authorized help and that responders can identify the location quickly. If you are still relying on aging copper lines, you can end up stuck waiting on a phone company visit while your modernization or turnover timeline slips. MyLinkLine helps you keep compliance moving by replacing landlines with code-focused cellular elevator phone lines and offering monitoring options that support your call handling requirements. The goal is simple: a working emergency line, clear records, and fewer failed inspections.