Every elevator in DC must be inspected annually by a DCRA-licensed elevator inspector and maintained by a licensed elevator contractor under DC Code 6-1401 and DCMR Title 12-A Chapter 30.
DCRA enforces elevator safety using ASME A17.1 as adopted into DC's construction code. Buildings receive an annual operating certificate after passing inspection. Out-of-service elevators must be tagged and locked. Five-year category tests cover hydraulic, traction, and safety systems. Multi-family buildings must keep continuous service or post outage notices and provide accommodations for tenants with mobility needs under DC Human Rights Act. Recent reforms require operators to file outage data with DCRA, with public reporting for buildings showing chronic downtime.
Operating without a current certificate: 500 to 2,000 dollars per elevator; failure to make repairs within DCRA orders escalates to civil enforcement; chronic outages can trigger tenant abatements.
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See how Washington's elevator maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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