Nashville, TN Building Safety: Elevator Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Metro Property Standards, Ch. 16.24
- Inspection certificate
- Must be posted or on file
- Multi-elevator buildings
- At least one must run
- Single-elevator buildings
- May shut down for servicing
- Enforcement
- Dept. of Codes Administration
Summary
Metro's property standards code requires elevators, escalators and dumbwaiters to stay safe and operational, with a current inspection certificate posted or on file, and at least one elevator running whenever an equipped building is occupied.
Elevators, dumbwaiters, and escalators shall be maintained to sustain safely all imposed loads, to operate properly, and to be free from physical and fire hazards. The most current certificate of inspection shall be on display at all times within any elevator or shall be attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter; or the certificate shall be available for public inspection in the office of the building or structure operator.B.Elevators. In buildings equipped with passenger elevators, at least one elevator shall be maintained in operation at all times when the building is occupied. Exception: Buildings equipped with only one elevator shall be permitted to have the elevator temporarily out of service for testing or servicing.
(Ord. BL2001-585 § 1 (part), 2001)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Under Metro's property standards code, elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators must be maintained to safely carry their loads, operate properly, and stay free of physical and fire hazards. The current inspection certificate must be displayed inside the elevator (or attached to the escalator/dumbwaiter), or kept available for public inspection in the building operator's office. In buildings with passenger elevators, at least one must remain running whenever the building is occupied: buildings with only a single elevator may take it offline temporarily for testing or servicing. This applies metro-wide, including the satellite cities that rely on Metro's building code enforcement; it is enforced by the Metro Department of Codes Administration.
Violations & Fines
A defective, unsafe or improperly maintained elevator, escalator or dumbwaiter, or one lacking a posted current inspection certificate, is a property standards violation the Department of Codes Administration can cite and order corrected; buildings with multiple elevators cannot take all of them out of service and stay occupied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a building operate with its elevator out of service?
Where must the elevator inspection certificate be kept?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
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