Indianapolis, IN Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)

Elevator safety in Indianapolis is governed by IC 22-15 and rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (675 IAC 15). The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) Division of Fire and Building Safety administers the elevator safety program. All elevators, escalators, and similar conveyances open to public use require annual inspection and an operating permit. Inspections are conducted by state-certified elevator inspectors. Building owners must maintain a service contract with a certified elevator company for regular preventive maintenance. Indiana follows ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators) as adopted by the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission. Annual operating permits must be displayed in each elevator car. New installations and alterations require plan review and inspection before public use. The IDHS maintains a registry of all elevator devices in the state. Residential elevators in single-family homes have reduced requirements but must still be inspected at installation. Indianapolis has a diverse building stock including historic structures, modern office towers, and industrial conversions, each with different elevator compliance challenges. The consolidated city-county government works with IDHS on enforcement.