HB619 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Elevator Safety Review Board, regulation of elevators and inspection of elevators in private residences, authority to place elevators out of service, local regulation preempted, Sec. 25-13-18 am'd.

Summary

HB619 would require inspections and certificates of operation for all new residential elevators and existing private residence elevators, allow pulling noncompliant units out of service, and preempt local elevator regulations in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It requires newly installed residential elevators and residential elevators in other locations to be inspected and to receive a certificate of operation before use, with inspections carried out by licensed third-party inspectors. The administrator may require an out-of-compliance conveyance to be placed out of service until reinspected and found compliant, and private residence owners may request annual inspections; some certificate fees for private residence stairlifts and renewals are waived. It also preempts local regulations, giving state oversight through the Elevator Safety Review Board, and sets renewal timelines and display requirements for certificates of operation.

Who It Affects

• Private residence owners (and lessees) who have elevators in their homes: they must obtain a certificate of operation, may request inspections, have to display the certificate, and are subject to the out-of-service if not compliant, with some fee waivers for stairway chairlifts and renewals.
• Licensed elevator contractors, inspection firms, and the Elevator Safety Review Board: contractors must install and certify compliance, submit first-time registrations, and coordinate inspections; the Board administers inspections, enforces out-of-service actions, and local regulations are preempted by state law.

Key Provisions

• All new conveyance installations must be performed by a licensed installer (sole proprietor, firm, or corporation) and must certify compliance after installation; before use, the property owner/lessee must obtain a certificate of operation from the administrator and pay the applicable fee.
• The licensed elevator contractor is responsible for completing and submitting first-time registrations for new installations; the certificate of operation fee for newly installed elevators, platform lifts, and private residence stairway chairlifts is paid after an inspection by a licensed third-party inspection firm.
• The certificate of operation fee for all new and existing private residence stairway chairlifts and any renewal fees shall be waived; the administrator or designee shall inspect all newly installed and existing private residence elevators/platform lifts/stairway chairlifts after inspections by licensed inspectors, and provide owners with safety information and instructions to arrange periodic inspections.
• Inspection is voluntary for private residence owners (owner consent required); penalties under this chapter do not apply to private residence owners.
• For newly installed residential elevators and elevators in locations other than private residences, inspectors must note compliance with codes governing protection of hoistway openings (3x5 rule) on the inspection report.
• A certificate of operation is renewable annually, except private residence platform lifts and stairway chairlifts, which are valid for three years; the administrator may require noncompliant conveyances to be placed out of service until reinspected and compliant.
• Private residence owners may request an annual inspection, and certificates of operation must be clearly displayed on or in each conveyance.
• No county, municipality, or other political subdivision may enact laws regulating construction, installation, inspection, maintenance, or repair of elevators within their jurisdiction; state regulation preempts local regulation.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elevator Safety Review Board