Elevators in Hennepin County buildings are regulated under Minnesota Statutes 326B.184 and inspected by the MN Department of Labor and Industry. Annual inspections, valid certificates, and licensed mechanics are required for residential and commercial elevators.
Under Minn. Stat. 326B.184 and the Minnesota Elevator Code, all elevators, escalators, and similar conveyances must be installed and maintained by licensed elevator contractors and mechanics. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) issues operating permits and conducts annual inspections; current inspection certificates must be posted in the elevator cab. Hennepin County buildings include thousands of residential, hospital (HCMC), and downtown commercial elevators that fall under DLI authority. Complaints about stuck or malfunctioning elevators can be filed with DLI, and serious safety failures can trigger out-of-service orders pending repair and reinspection.
Operating an elevator with an expired certificate, hiring unlicensed mechanics, or skipping required inspections can lead to DLI civil penalties, out-of-service orders, and fines that often exceed 500 dollars per violation per day.
See how Minneapolis's elevator maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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