Elevator and Escalator Inspections Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a permit is required to install an elevator and escalator within the City of Seattle. You must be a licensed elevator contractor to obtain an elevator and escalator permit.

Elevators and escalators installed within the City of Seattle require a safety inspection annually and maintain a valid certificate of inspection to operate.

Annual safety inspections do not need to be scheduled. We perform those inspections based on the due month assigned to the site. Your due month can be found on the Seattle Services Portal.

Installation inspections can be scheduled with the district inspector or by sending us an email. See our district map for boundaries and contact information.

If your elevator or escalator fails an inspection, you’ll need to download the failed inspection report from the Seattle Service portal. Send the inspection report to your elevator service provider for necessary repairs, maintenance, or testing that is noted on the inspection report.

Within 90 days of the inspection’s due month, have the individual or company who performed the work initial the corrections on the City of Seattle inspection report. Send the initialed report to sci_elevatorreports@seattle.gov. Include documentation from the elevator service provider confirming work completion. This protects you from reinspection fees if their work is incomplete. Note: A reinspection fee of $143.85 applies to each elevator and escalator with unresolved correction items. 

The report will be forwarded to an inspector for review. They will either approve or deny the reinspection based on the correction of the code violations. 

The inspection due month can be found on the Seattle Services Portal under the site record (EQP-SI-00000).

We have a step-by-step video on How to View Your Inspection Report through the Seattle Service Portal. You will need to send copies of the report to your elevator service provider.

Contact us at sci_elevatorreports@seattle.gov or contact your district Inspector.

The building owner or their designated agent.

Yes, you can contact SDCI Conveyance to request an extension.

Depending on the inspection result, the elevator could be removed from service, or the issued certificate of inspection could be revoked. If you don’t respond, we may issue a notice of violation, which carries fines of up to $500 per day for continued noncompliance.

Once the annual safety inspection is completed, an email will be sent to the financially responsible party contact in our records. The email will have a link to the invoice record; after the inspection fees have been paid, another email will be sent to the contact with a link to a PDF of the certificate of inspection. Copies of the certificate of inspection can also be accessed from the site record, under attachments, in the Seattle Services Portal.

Correct any code violations found during annual safety inspections, notify SDCI Conveyance within 90 days of the end of the inspection due month, and pay all inspection fees. This will maintain a valid certificate of inspection and ensure compliance.

Yes, elevators have quarterly, yearly, and 5-year testing and maintenance that is required outside of annual safety inspections.

Visit our elevator inspector contact list.