Columbus, OH Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)

Elevator safety in Columbus is governed by ORC Chapter 4105 (Elevators) and the Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4101:14 (Elevator Safety). The Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance administers the elevator safety program. All elevators, escalators, and similar conveyances open to public use require an annual inspection and operating permit. Inspections are conducted by state-certified elevator inspectors. Building owners must maintain a service contract with a certified elevator company, with maintenance performed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer but no less than quarterly for public-use elevators. Annual operating permits must be conspicuously posted in each elevator car. New installations and major alterations require plan review and inspection before being placed in service. Ohio follows ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators) as adopted by the Ohio Board of Building Standards. Residential elevators in single-family homes are subject to ASME A17.1 Section 5.3 but have reduced inspection requirements. The Division of Industrial Compliance maintains a database of registered elevators and their compliance status. Columbus has approximately 4,500 registered elevator devices across the city.