Madison, WI Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)

Chapter 40 of the Madison General Ordinances covers conveyances installed in public buildings, places of employment, and dwelling units within the city, including passenger and freight elevators, escalators, moving walks, stage lifts, material lifts, power dumbwaiters, and stairway chairlifts (MGO § 40.06). The core maintenance duty is set out at MGO § 40.115: '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.

Section 40.09 assigns inspection authority to the Fire Chief (a licensed inspector under Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.64), who conducts acceptance inspections for new installations, periodic/routine inspections, and periodic tests under ASME A17.1 §8.11 and ASME A18.1a §10.3. Test reports must be kept on site next to the conveyance controller and, within fifteen days of testing, reported electronically through the City's electronic reporting system (§ 40.09(3)(c)2). Owners pay a permit-to-operate fee of $75, effective January 1, 2023, collected by the City Clerk and forwarded to the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (§ 40.11(5)).

A reinspection or missed-inspection fee equal to 50% of the applicable inspection fee applies if equipment is not ready when scheduled, unless the Chief receives seven business days' written notice (§ 40.11(3)). Inspections requested outside normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.) carry an added $80-per-hour charge (§ 40.11(4)). Property owners may appeal a Chief's decision to the Board of Building Code, Fire Code, Conveyance Code, and Licensing Appeals within 30 days, with a $50 filing fee (§ 40.13).