Stairlifts in Florida: what Chapter 399 says about homes

Families adding a stairlift to a Florida home usually start with one question: does the state treat it like an elevator? The honest answer has two parts, and the gap between them is the part worth understanding before anyone measures a stair.

In short, the state elevator program steps back from single-family homes, while the Florida Building Code and your local building office stay in the picture. Below we quote the statutes, explain what we could and could not confirm, and look at lifts that suit a Florida porch or stairway.

Named in the law, then set aside for homes

Florida's elevator statute, Chapter 399 of the Florida Statutes, lists "an inclined stairway chairlift" and "an inclined or vertical wheelchair lift" among the things it counts as elevators (s. 399.01(6)(e) and (f)). A later section then removes "elevators, inclined stairway chairlifts, and inclined or vertical wheelchair lifts located in private residences" from the chapter's coverage (s. 399.02(3)(u)). The chapter defines a private residence as "a separate dwelling or a separate apartment in a multiple dwelling" occupied by one family (s. 399.01(9)).

For a home lift, the carve-out shows up in two concrete ways. Private-residence chairlifts and wheelchair lifts "are not required to obtain a certificate of operation," and the state's inspection before first use does not extend to private residences (s. 399.03(5)). The Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Bureau of Elevator Safety puts it plainly on its permits page: "Conveyances located in and serving only one family residence are not regulated by the division," and they "do not require a permit from the division" (DBPR elevator permits).

That is not the end of the story. The Bureau notes that private-residence conveyances are enforced through the Florida Building Code by the local building authority (Bureau of Elevator Safety news room). The edition in force, the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023), took effect December 31, 2023. Whether your particular job needs a county or city permit or inspection is a question for that building office, and we will not guess at it for you.

Two more cautions. A lift in a condo common stairway, a church or a shop may fall outside the private-residence exception altogether, so ask the building office before choosing a model for a shared or public stair. And we have not confirmed whether Florida requires a registered or licensed installer for a lift inside a single-family home; the statute's wording left that unclear to us, so we make no claim either way.

Humid summers, storms and the power going out

NOAA's Florida climate summary describes "hot, humid summers and mild winters" and names Florida "the most humid state in the Nation." The statewide annual average (1895 to 2020) is 53.7 inches of precipitation, with more falling from June through September, and hurricane-force winds reach the state "an average of 3 times every 5 years." Freezing nights average more than 20 a year in the far north and 0 in the south, and Miami International Airport has dropped below freezing only 7 times in 80 years of records.

For a stairlift, those facts point in three directions. A lift on an exposed porch, pool deck or lanai stair should be a model its maker builds for outdoor use, not an indoor unit under a tarp. Steady humidity and heavy rain favor covered drive parts and weather-resistant seat materials. And because storms can knock out power, a battery-driven lift that keeps running for a while without household current is worth weighing.

Four lifts that fit common Florida stairs

• Exposed straight steps. The Bruno Elite SRE-2010E uses marine-grade components, a covered gear rack and weather-resistant seat materials, and Bruno lists it as designed for 0°F to 125°F (Bruno). It carries 400 lb.
• Outdoor stairs that turn. The Bruno Elite Curve Outdoor CRE-2110E rides a rail handcrafted to that one staircase (Bruno), and an optional park position moves the rail end away from the steps.
• A narrow indoor stair. Harmar rates the Pinnacle SL300 at 300 lb, says it folds to 11 inches from the wall, and lists up to 60 trips in a power outage (Harmar).
• A wall you would rather not drill. The Harmar SL350AC mounts to the stairs instead of the wall and runs on standard 115V household current, with 350 lb capacity on track up to 15 ft 9 in, per its product page. It is for indoor use only.

Measure the stair, note whether it curves, and check where an outlet sits near the top or bottom before you compare.

FAAST and other help in Florida

FAAST, the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, is the state's assistive technology program, offering device loans, demonstrations, reuse and financial loans (AT3 Center). FAAST says its devices "can be borrowed at no cost," that it "recycles used assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment," and that it offers low-interest alternative financing loans.

Ordering and delivery to Florida

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. Faith Mobility ships to the lower 48 states and DC. Shipping is free on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), we cover the sales tax on every order, and most products are processed in 2-5 business days, though some brands differ. Our Florida shipping page has the details, and the stairlift fit check asks about your stairs before you choose.

Questions about stairlifts in Florida

Does a home stairlift in Florida need a state elevator permit?

Not from the state elevator division. The Bureau of Elevator Safety says conveyances serving only one family residence "do not require a permit from the division," and s. 399.03(5) says private-residence chairlifts need no certificate of operation. Your county or city building office may still have its own requirements under the Florida Building Code, so ask it before work begins.

Who inspects a stairlift in a Florida house?

The state's pre-use inspection under s. 399.03(5) does not extend to private residences. The Bureau of Elevator Safety says private-residence conveyances are enforced through the Florida Building Code by the local building authority. That means your local building office decides whether an inspection applies to your job.

Does the private-residence exception cover a condo stairway?

Chapter 399 defines a private residence as "a separate dwelling or a separate apartment in a multiple dwelling" occupied by one family. A lift inside one unit may fit that wording, but a lift in a shared stairway may not. Ask your building office, and your association, before choosing a lift for any common area.

Can a stairlift be used outside in Florida weather?

Only a model built for it. Bruno lists its outdoor Elite straight and curved lifts as designed for 0°F to 125°F, with marine-grade components and a covered gear rack on the straight model. Indoor lifts such as the Harmar SL350AC are not meant for exposed steps, so tell us whether your stair is inside, outside or on a screened lanai.

Will a stairlift work during a hurricane power outage?

Many lifts run on batteries that charge from the house. Harmar lists up to 60 trips in a power outage for the Pinnacle SL300, and our Bruno Elite SRE-2010 page notes that Bruno stairlifts run on batteries and are designed to make several trips during an outage. Actual trips depend on the charge, the stair and the rider, so treat those figures as the maker's estimate.

When you are ready, compare models in our stairlift collection, run the stairlift fit check, or take the full assessment if the stairs are one of several changes at home. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Florida Statutes Chapter 399, Elevator Safety (s. 399.01)
• Florida Statutes s. 399.02, Scope
• Florida Statutes s. 399.03, Design, installation and alteration
• DBPR Bureau of Elevator Safety: permits
• DBPR Bureau of Elevator Safety: news room
• Florida Building Commission: Florida Building Code
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Florida (2022)
• Bruno Elite straight outdoor stairlift
• Bruno Elite curved outdoor stairlift
• Harmar Pinnacle SL300
• Faith Mobility: Harmar SL350AC product page
• Faith Mobility: Bruno Elite SRE-2010 product page (power outage note)
• FAAST, Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology
• AT3 Center: Florida