Stairlifts in Idaho: the elevator act, home exemptions and fit

When a staircase starts to decide which rooms someone can use, an Idaho family usually wants two answers before anything else: will the state need to approve a lift in our own house, and will the lift hold up to an Idaho winter if the steps are outside?

The short version is that Idaho's elevator law sets private residences aside, while a few practical questions still belong to your local building office. Cold and snow matter more than paperwork for outdoor steps, so we cover both below.

How Idaho's elevator law treats a lift in a home

Idaho regulates elevators and similar equipment under the Idaho Elevator Safety Code Act, Title 39, Chapter 86 of the Idaho Code. The act defines its subject broadly: "'Conveyance' includes elevators, escalators, moving walks, platform lifts, material lifts, and dumbwaiters" (Idaho Code 39-8603(4)). A platform lift, in the same section, "may include vertical or inclined platform lifts used by persons who are mobility impaired." Stairway chairlifts are not named in that list.

The scope section then removes several categories from the chapter entirely, and the first one on the list is "Conveyances located in private residences" (Idaho Code 39-8606). The act defines a private residence as "a separate dwelling or a separate apartment in a multiple dwelling occupied only by the members of a single family unit" (39-8603(17)).

Where the act does apply, the rule is strict. Section 39-8608 makes it "unlawful for any person to do, or cause or permit to be done, whether acting as principal, agent or employee, any installation or major alteration of any conveyance in the state of Idaho without first procuring an installation permit from the division of occupational and professional licenses" (Idaho Code 39-8608(1)). The same section adds that installations "may be subject to licensing, permitting and inspection requirements set forth in other provisions of law."

Put together: a stairlift or inclined platform lift serving one family's home falls inside the private-residence exemption, so the state installation permit described in 39-8608 is aimed at other buildings. Two cautions keep this honest. First, the statute never uses the words "stairway chairlift," so if your situation is unusual (a duplex, a home business with visitors, a church), ask the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses Elevator Program before you order. Second, the "other provisions of law" language means an electrical or building permit could still come into play locally; your city or county building office can tell you whether it wants one.

Cold nights, deep snow and outdoor steps

NOAA's Idaho State Climate Summary describes "cold winters and pleasantly warm summers." Statewide, the long-term average is 7.4 nights a year at 0°F or lower, though that count has been below average since 1990. Snowfall ranges from about 10 to 20 inches a year in the southern lowlands to more than 100 inches in the higher mountains, and the higher elevations of northern and central Idaho receive up to four times the rain and snow of the low southern regions. Most precipitation falls from November through May.

For a lift on a porch, a deck or the steps down to a lower-level entry, that points to an outdoor-rated model with sealed or covered parts, and a plan for clearing snow from the rail and landing. Indoors, the climate matters less, though summer heat in Boise (a July average high of 92.7°F in NOAA's 1991-2020 normals) is worth remembering if a stair runs through an unconditioned space.

Lifts that suit Idaho homes

• Outdoor straight steps: the Bruno Elite SRE-2010E carries 400 lb and is designed for 0°F to 125°F, with an anodized aluminum rail, a covered gear rack and weather-resistant seat materials. For a back deck in the Panhandle, that temperature range is the specification to check first.
• Stairs that curve or turn: Harmar custom-makes the Helix for one staircase on a True-Curve rail. It is rated for 350 lb on inclines up to 58° and folds to 16 in from the wall.
• Narrow interior stairs: the Harmar Pinnacle SL300 folds to 11 in from the wall and carries 300 lb. Its page notes that inclines above 45° may need local approval, one more reason to talk with your building office on a steep stair.
• A simple straight stair, kept open for others: the Bruno Elan SRE-5000 lifts up to 300 lb on a narrow vertical rail that leaves room on the steps for family members who still walk them.

Measure the stair, note any landing or turn, and check whether a door opens near the top or bottom. Those three details narrow the field faster than anything else.

Help from Idaho's assistive technology program

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project, based at the University of Idaho in Moscow, is the state's program under the federal Assistive Technology Act. The AT3 Center lists device loans, device demonstrations, device reutilization and financial loans among its services. The project's own site invites Idahoans to "test and borrow devices through our lending libraries" and says it can help secure a low interest loan to purchase assistive technology.

Getting a stairlift to an Idaho home

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Details are on our Idaho shipping page, and the stairlift fit check walks through your stair.

Questions about stairlifts in Idaho

Do I need a state elevator permit for a stairlift in my Idaho home?

Idaho Code 39-8606 says the Elevator Safety Code Act does not apply to conveyances located in private residences, which the act defines as a dwelling occupied only by one family unit. The state installation permit in 39-8608 is therefore aimed at other buildings. The statute does not name stairway chairlifts, so for an unusual property ask the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, and ask your local building office about any local permit.

Can a stairlift work outdoors through an Idaho winter?

Choose one built for it. NOAA reports an Idaho long-term average of 7.4 nights a year at 0°F or lower and more than 100 inches of snow in the higher mountains. The Bruno Elite SRE-2010E outdoor lift is designed for 0°F to 125°F with a covered gear rack. Keep the rail and landings clear of snow and ice so the lift and the rider can move safely.

Does the Idaho elevator law cover a platform lift in a church or shop?

The private-residence exemption covers homes occupied by one family. The act's definition of conveyance includes platform lifts, including inclined and vertical platform lifts used by people with mobility impairments, so a lift in a church, business or shared building may need the installation permit described in Idaho Code 39-8608. The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses Elevator Program is the place to confirm.

Where can I try equipment before buying in Idaho?

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project runs lending libraries and device demonstrations, according to its own site and the AT3 Center. It also offers financial loans for assistive technology. Ask what its libraries hold before you visit; the project can also help you think through other equipment for the same rooms.

Compare models in our stairlift collection, run the stairlift fit check, or start with the full assessment if stairs are one of several challenges at home. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Idaho Code 39-8603, Elevator Safety Code Act definitions
• Idaho Code 39-8606, scope and exemptions
• Idaho Code 39-8608, installation permits
• Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Elevator Program
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Idaho (2022)
• Idaho Assistive Technology Project
• AT3 Center: Idaho
• Bruno Outdoor Elite SRE-2010E (Faith Mobility product page)
• Harmar Helix Curved Stairlift (Faith Mobility product page)
• Harmar Pinnacle SL300 (Faith Mobility product page)
• Bruno Elan SRE-5000 (Faith Mobility product page)