Advisory 26-03


Read time: 6 minutes

Inoperable Elevators per Public Act 26-84



Purpose

Public Act 26-84, effective October 1, 2026, establishes several requirements for owners regarding the maintenance, notification, and reporting of inoperable elevators within residential buildings with tenants in Connecticut. The act does not differentiate types of residential buildings. It is intended to ensure that residents—particularly those dependent on elevators for access—receive timely information and that repairs are actively monitored by local officials.

This advisory is intended to provide guidance to property owners of residential buildings with tenants and to local building officials on Public Act 26-84 with regard to inoperable elevators in residential buildings.  Copies of the Public Act and the Office of Legislative Research Bill Analysis can be found on our webpage in the links below.

This public act also establishes investigation and reporting requirements for local building officials for enforcement.

Public Act 26-84

Office of Legislative Research Bill Analysis

 

Key Definitions Added

The public act defines several new terms, including:

  • Residential elevator building: A building used for residential purposes with at least one elevator used for access to floors above or below grade (including garages), with some exceptions such as state/municipal buildings and buildings under active permitted renovation.
  • Elevator: A hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car or platform which moves in guides or rails in a substantially vertical direction other than an inclined stairway chairlift and a vertical wheelchair or incline lift, including sidewalk elevators used for the carrying of persons or freight.
  • Inoperable: An elevator operating in a way that materially and consistently limits reliable access to dwelling units.
  • Elevator contractor: A licensed elevator professional as defined in Connecticut General Statute (CGS)  §20-330. 

 

Owner Responsibilities

Beginning October 1, 2026, owners of residential elevator buildings must keep elevators in continuous working order in compliance with the Connecticut Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators and applicable building and housing codes and provide the following notices and submissions:

1. Post Signage – Section 2(b)(1)

Post a notice near elevator call buttons, in English and Spanish, not more than 60-inches from the floor, that states:

“If this elevator is not working and it is an emergency, dial 911. If it is not an emergency and you do not have access to another working elevator for at least 48 consecutive hours, call (THE APPLICABLE MUNICIPALITY) at (THE APPLICABLE PHONE NUMBER).

2. Notify Tenants of Scheduled Maintenance– Section 2(b)(2)

Provide tenants with at least 24 hours’ written notice before any scheduled elevator maintenance.

3. Notify Tenants When Elevator is Inoperable – Section 2(b)(3)

Within 24 hours after an elevator is first reported as being inoperable and not restored to service, provide notice to each tenant served by the affected elevator that includes:

  • Cause of the inoperability (if known)
  • Estimated repair timeline (if known)
  • Name and contact information of an individual or responsible party who will provide updates and current information concerning the status of the repair of such elevator

  • Name and contact information of the local building official to report violations

4. Notify Local Building Official When Elevator is Inoperable – Section 2(c)

Within 48 hours after an elevator is first reported as being inoperable and not restored to service, provide the local building official with:

  • A copy of the notice issued to affected tenants
  • A repair plan prepared by a licensed elevator contractor that includes: 
    • Cause of inoperability
    • Nature of repair required
    • Expected completion date

 

Duties of the Local Building Official

1. Contact Owner of Building – Section 3(a)

Within 2 business days of receiving notice and a repair plan for an inoperable elevator, the local building official must contact the owner and/or contractor to establish a plan for periodic updates.

2. Investigate Complaints – Section 3(b)

Local building officials must investigate any complaint received about an inoperable elevator in a residential elevator building. If the elevator is inoperable, the building official must issue a written request to the owner to comply with the Owner’s Responsibilities summarized above within 5 business days and specify that the owner may be subject to the penalties in CGS § 29-198 for noncompliance.

  • CGS Sec. 29-198. (Formerly Sec. 19-418). Penalties. Any person who violates any of the provisions of sections 29-191 to 29-197, inclusive, or the regulations of the department herein provided for shall (1) for the first offense, be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars, and (2) for each subsequent offense, be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

*Please note that elevator inspections are the responsibility of the Bureau of Elevators. This section does not authorize local building officials to conduct elevator inspections; only investigations of complaints.

3. Notify the Bureau of Elevators  – Section 3(c)

Notify the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Elevators at 860-713-5808 or CT.Elevators@ct.gov of each of the following:

1) Receipt of a notice and repair plan for an inoperable elevator

2) Receipt of a complaint about an inoperable elevator in a residential elevator building

3) Any instances when an owner fails to comply with: 

a) The provisions of section 2 of P.A. 26-84 (Owner’s Responsibilities, summarized above);
b) A repair plan for an inoperable elevator;
c) A plan for periodic updates established pursuant to P.A. 26-84; or
d) A request for compliance in accordance with P.A. 26-84.

4. Building Official Impact – Practical Takeaways
For Connecticut local building officials, this bill creates a new complaint-response and tracking role, limited only to residential buildings, including:

  • Monitoring elevator outages after 48 hours
  • Reviewing contractor repair plans
  • Establishing communication/update schedules 
  • Reporting compliance data to Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Elevators

Each building department is encouraged to develop a policy on tracking these situations and a contact list of local agencies that should be notified of such outages such as, but not limited to, social services, 911 dispatch, fire marshal, police.

 

Penalties

1. Bureau of Elevators Authority

Pursuant to CGS Chapter 538, the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, which oversees the Bureau of Elevators under the authority of the Connecticut State Building Inspector, may:

  • Impose penalties for violations of CGS § 29-191 to § 29-197, inclusive, pursuant to CGS §29-198.
  • Require more frequent inspections pursuant to CGS §29-195.
  • Revoke elevator operating certificates pursuant to CGS §29-196.
  • Order elevators removed from service if necessary pursuant to CGS § 29-197.
  • Impose fines up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for subsequent offenses for violations of P.A. 26-84.

 

Respectfully,


Omarys Vasquez, AIA NOMA
State Building Inspector