All elevators in Kirkland must be permitted, inspected annually, and maintained by a certified mechanic under Washington Department of Labor and Industries Chapter 70.87 RCW.
Elevator safety in Kirkland is regulated by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L and I) under RCW 70.87 and WAC 296-96, which adopts the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. Any new elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator, platform lift, or stairway chairlift installation requires an L and I permit, plan review, acceptance inspection, and an operating certificate issued after passing inspection. Kirkland Building Division coordinates with L and I for the structural and electrical portions of elevator permits, but L and I remains the primary authority for the elevator equipment itself. Every elevator must receive an annual safety inspection by an L and I-certified inspector, with written reports filed and deficiencies corrected within the time specified in the inspection notice, usually 30 to 90 days. Maintenance must be performed by a Washington-licensed elevator mechanic working for an L and I-registered elevator contractor under a written maintenance control program. Elevator emergency communications must be a two-way voice system monitored 24 hours per day under ASME A17.1. Residential private elevators in single-family homes are exempt from the annual inspection requirement but still require initial installation permits and compliance with ASME A17.1 Section 5.3. Failure to maintain a current operating certificate can result in the elevator being removed from service and fines against the building owner.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in King County handle elevator maintenance.
See how Kirkland's elevator maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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