Cleveland, OH Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- State agency
- Ohio Commerce DIC
- Inspection frequency
- Annual
- Standard
- ASME A17.1
- Cab posting
- Current certificate
Summary
Elevators in Cleveland are regulated under the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance and ASME A17.1, with annual state inspections plus Cleveland Department of Building and Housing certificate of occupancy review.
Section 4105.10 | Frequency of inspection. Effective: April 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 107 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF
(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, elevators shall be inspected in accordance with the following:
(1) Every passenger elevator, escalator, moving walk, and freight elevator, including gravity elevators, shall be inspected twice every twelve months.
(2) Power dumb-waiters, hoists, and other lifting or lowering apparatus, not designed to carry persons, permanently installed, either on or between rails or guides, shall be inspected at least once every twelve months.
(3) The board of building standards may designate, by rule, classifications of passenger elevators with a capacity of seven hundred fifty pounds or less that shall be inspected once every twelve months.
(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to an elevator installed in a private residence. Last updated March 15, 2023 at 10:08 AM
Full Breakdown
Ohio Revised Code 4105 and Ohio Administrative Code 4101:5 require all passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and dumbwaiters to be inspected annually by the Ohio Department of Commerce or approved third-party inspectors. Cleveland enforces operational compliance through Chapter 211 and ties certificates of occupancy to current state elevator certificates posted in cabs. Major repairs or modernizations require state permits, sealed drawings from Ohio-registered engineers, and final acceptance testing. Multifamily and commercial owners must maintain records, respond to entrapment incidents, and keep machine rooms accessible to inspectors and emergency responders.
Violations & Fines
Operating an elevator with an expired state certificate or after a failed inspection violates ORC 4105 and can prompt sealing of the elevator, daily fines, and certificate of occupancy suspension under Chapter 211.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who inspects Cleveland elevators?
What if my elevator certificate has expired?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
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Elevator Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle elevator maintenance.