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Madison, WI Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing chapter: MGO Ch. 40, Conveyance Code
Enforcing official: Madison Fire Department Chief
Maintenance duty: Maintained and operational at all times
Permit-to-operate fee: $75 (effective Jan. 1, 2023)
Penalty: $10-$1,000 forfeiture, per day
Test report deadline: Reported electronically within 15 days

Summary

Madison's Conveyance Code requires every elevator, escalator, moving walk, and similar lift device in the city to be kept maintained and operational at all times, with periodic inspection, testing and permitting overseen by the Madison Fire Chief under MGO Ch. 40.

40.115 - CONVEYANCE MAINTENANCE. All conveyances, required under this chapter or Chapter 29 of the Madison General Ordinances, shall be maintained and operational at all times. Exceptions: 1.When the conveyance is undergoing routine testing. 2.When the conveyance is undergoing routine maintenance. (Sec. 40.115 Cr. by ORD-11-00056, 4-7-11) ... 40.16 - PENALTIES. Any person violating a provision of this chapter may be subject to a forfeiture of not less than ten dollars ($10) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1000). Each day or portion thereof such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.

Source: WI DSPS Elevator ProgramView official code

Full Breakdown

06). 115: 'All conveyances, required under this chapter or Chapter 29 of the Madison General Ordinances, shall be maintained and operational at all times,' with only two narrow exceptions, while the conveyance is undergoing routine testing or routine maintenance. 09 assigns inspection authority to the Fire Chief (a licensed inspector under Wis. Admin. 3. 09(3)(c)2). 11(5)). 11(3)). 11(4)). 13).

Violations & Fines

Operating or failing to maintain a conveyance in violation of Chapter 40 is a forfeiture offense under MGO § 40.16: not less than $10 nor more than $1,000, with each day or portion of a day the violation continues charged as a separate offense. The Fire Chief's inspection report identifies noncompliant items, which must be corrected by the compliance date stated on the report (§ 40.09(1)(b)); equipment found noncompliant must be reinspected before it can obtain a permit to operate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who inspects elevators in Madison?

The Madison Fire Department Chief, acting through licensed inspectors under Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.64, conducts acceptance, periodic, and routine inspections of all conveyances covered by MGO Chapter 40, and prepares a written report of any items found out of compliance.

Can a building owner ever take an elevator out of service?

Yes. MGO § 40.115 allows an exception only while the conveyance is undergoing routine testing or routine maintenance; otherwise every covered conveyance must be kept maintained and operational at all times.

What happens if an elevator fails inspection in Madison?

The Chief's inspection report lists noncompliant items with a compliance date; equipment that remains noncompliant must be reinspected before it can receive a permit to operate, and continued operation in violation of Chapter 40 exposes the owner to a $10-$1,000 forfeiture per day under § 40.16.

How much does an elevator permit to operate cost in Madison?

The permit-to-operate fee is $75, effective January 1, 2023, under MGO § 40.11(5); the City collects the fee alongside inspection charges and forwards the permit portion to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Sources & Official References

[1]Madison General Ordinances Ch. 40 — Conveyance Code

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