Cincinnati, OH Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)

Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 1107 provides local enforcement of the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. The city automatically adopts the State of Ohio elevator code, typically the most recent edition of ASME A17.1, 30 days after the state adopts it. The Elevator Inspection Section within the Department of Buildings and Inspections inspects all passenger elevators, freight elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, wheelchair lifts, and similar conveyances. Most units require annual safety tests, which may include the standard annual test, the three-year periodic test, or the five-year full-load safety test. These tests must be performed by qualified elevator maintenance personnel employed by a licensed elevator contractor. Building owners are responsible for maintaining a current maintenance contract with a licensed elevator company and keeping the unit in safe operating condition at all times. The Elevator Inspection Section issues certificates of compliance, and operating an elevator without a current certificate is a violation. New installations and major alterations require plan review, a permit, and inspection before being placed in service. Residential elevators in single-family homes must comply with ASME A17.1 Part 5.3 and are also subject to periodic inspection. Emergency phones or communication devices are required in all passenger elevators. Reports of elevator malfunctions or unsafe conditions should be directed to Cincinnati 311 at (513) 591-6000.