Texas elevator inspection rules for building owners
What the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires of elevator owners: 12-month inspections, certificates of compliance, and how contractors and inspectors are licensed.
Texas regulates elevators, escalators and related equipment through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under the Elevator, Escalator and Related Equipment law (Chapter 754 of the Health and Safety Code). Owners of buildings with elevators have specific duties, and the state licenses the businesses and inspectors who work on them. This guide summarises what TDLR says on its elevator FAQ and program pages. Always check current rules with TDLR.
The owner’s duties
TDLR states that the owner of an elevator or related equipment must obtain an inspection every 12 months and submit the inspection report, all required documents and the applicable fees to the department to obtain a Certificate of Compliance. The owner applies within 30 days after the inspection, and the certificate is valid for one year. Owners must hire registered inspectors, file reports on time, display certificates where the public can see them and keep the equipment in compliance with the applicable code.
One point matters when you hire a maintenance company: TDLR says an owner may not lawfully delegate the responsibility for safely maintaining the building and equipment, or for compliance with the statute, to another party. A contractor can do the work, but the legal duty stays with you.
Who inspects
Inspections must be carried out by inspectors registered with TDLR. According to the department, registered elevator inspectors complete a Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) certification through a recognised body, apply to TDLR and complete department orientation. An inspector is a separate role from a contractor, so an owner can hire one company to maintain the equipment and a different registered inspector to inspect it. Ask candidates for their TDLR registration and check it on the TDLR license search.
Who installs and maintains
Businesses that install, repair, maintain or alter elevators in Texas must register with TDLR as an Elevator Contractor. TDLR says contractors must maintain general liability insurance of $1 million and $500,000 (bodily injury and property damage limits), and designate one or two responsible parties with at least three years’ experience, who complete annual continuing education. That is why the TDLR file includes a separate “Elevator Responsible Party” license type. The listings in our directory come from the Elevator Contractor registrations in the TDLR file. Check the responsible party and insurance when you sign a maintenance contract.
What is exempt
TDLR notes that no plan review is required for equipment in private residences, federal facilities, industrial facilities, the City of Houston jurisdiction, or dumbwaiters. Do not assume that an exemption from plan review is an exemption from everything; check with TDLR or your local building department about your specific equipment.
Violations and penalties
TDLR can take enforcement action, including administrative penalties and sanctions, when owners or contractors do not comply. The department publishes a page on building owner elevator penalties and sanctions. Inspectors also cite violations in their reports. TDLR indicates that cited violations must be corrected, or brought under a contract for correction, before the certificate is sought, so get correction quotes as soon as you have the report.
An owner’s checklist
- Make a list of every elevator, escalator and lift in the building with its TDLR registration or identification number.
- Diary the 12-month inspection dates so that a certificate never lapses.
- Hire a registered inspector, and check the registration on TDLR’s site.
- Read the report, get corrections quoted or contracted, and file the report and fees within 30 days of the inspection.
- Post each certificate of compliance where it can be seen.
- Keep your maintenance contract, insurance certificate and inspection reports together.
Finding a contractor
Browse Texas cities in this directory to find businesses with an active TDLR Elevator Contractor registration in the state file, and read our guide on choosing an elevator maintenance contractor. Confirm the registration on TDLR’s site on the day you sign. We list registrations only, not inspection outcomes.