Stairlifts in North Dakota: the new conveyance law and homes

North Dakota's electrician law now carries a second job for the State Electrical Board: registering, permitting and inspecting conveyances, with owners given six months from July 1, 2025 to register the ones already in service. A family planning a stairlift today is right to ask whether any of that reaches a private home.

The short answer is that the new law names stairway chairlifts directly, then carves out an exception for homes that is worded around elevators. Below is the exact language, what it leaves open, and who can settle the question for your house before anything is ordered.

What North Dakota's conveyance law says

The rules live in chapter 43-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, the same chapter that licenses electricians. Section 43-09-01 defines a "conveyance" as "an elevator, escalator, stairway chairlift, platform lift, stage lift, orchestra lift, hoist, dumbwaiter, moving walk, automated people mover, automatedtype parking structure, wind turbine elevator, or other device used for moving individuals, materials, equipment, or other objects from one landing or location to another." So a stair lift and a vertical platform lift are both inside the definition.

Section 43-09-27 tells the board to write rules for "the inspection and testing of conveyances," then limits them: "The rules adopted by the board may not apply to an elevator located in a single-family private residence, a facility used for the purpose of energy generation, an industrial conveyance the primary purpose of which is not the movement of individuals, or a conveyance used in an agricultural facility." Notice the wording. The home exception speaks of "an elevator," while the definition lists the stairway chairlift as its own item. The statute does not say whether a chairlift in a single-family house falls under that exception, and we will not guess.

Where the board's rules do apply, the steps are spelled out. Under section 43-09-28, "Before an installation or alteration may be commenced on a conveyance, an elevator contractor shall apply to the board for a permit." Section 43-09-31 adds that "Before a conveyance is placed in operation, the owner of the conveyance shall obtain a certificate of operation from the board," and that the certificate "is valid for one year and must be renewed annually."

The board's rules took effect July 1, 2026 (North Dakota Administrative Code chapter 24.1-50-01). They list "ASME A18.1-2023 Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts" among the standards that govern conveyances, and they say that where the board's requirements conflict with "locally adopted codes or State Building Code pertaining to conveyance equipment, the more restrictive requirements are the minimum."

Two offices can answer the open question for a particular home: the State Electrical Board, which administers chapter 43-09, and your city or county building department. A duplex, a church, a lake cabin rented to guests or a shop all sit further from the single-family wording, so raise those with the board early.

Winter, wind and the stairs you climb

NOAA's North Dakota climate summary describes a state far from any ocean, with average January temperatures ranging "from about 4°F in the northeast to 18°F in the southwest" and arctic air that the lack of northern mountains lets in. Snowfall averages 30 to 55 inches a year, and NOAA ranks the state's yearly chance of a blizzard as "one of the highest in the Nation."

For a stairlift, that points indoors whenever the choice exists. Bruno lists its outdoor Elite models as designed for 0°F to 125°F. Statewide January averages sit above that floor, yet the arctic outbreaks NOAA describes can drop well below it, so an exposed porch stair deserves a frank conversation before you commit to an outdoor rail. Summer is not mild either: NOAA notes that temperatures of 100°F or higher occur nearly every year.

Lifts that fit North Dakota homes

• Bruno Elite Indoor Straight SRE-2010: rated to 400 lb, and Bruno says its stairlifts run on batteries and are designed to make several trips even during a power outage. A sensible pick for a basement or second-floor stair in a house where winter storms are part of life.
• Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD: lifts up to 600 lb with a high-backed, extra-wide chair, and the seat swivels 85° at the top for transfers. Harmar rates it for residential and commercial use but not outdoors.
• Bruno Outdoor Elite SRE-2010E: an anodized aluminum rail, a covered gear rack and a light cover for straight steps to a deck or entry. Keep the 0°F design floor in mind for winter use.
• Harmar Helix Curved Stairlift: custom-made for one staircase on a bent rail, with a 350 lb capacity on inclines up to 58°, for split-level and turning stairs.

Help from North Dakota's assistive technology program

The state's assistive technology program is North Dakota Assistive. The AT3 Center directory lists it for device loans, device demonstrations, device reutilization, a financial loan program and other state financing. Its own site describes free demonstrations, short-term device loans, a device reuse program and an Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program, which can help with the smaller equipment that often comes alongside a stairlift.

Ordering and delivery to North Dakota

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, shipping is free 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. See shipping to North Dakota, or start with the stairlift fit check.

Questions about stairlifts in North Dakota

Does North Dakota require a permit for a stairlift in my house?

Chapter 43-09 counts a stairway chairlift as a conveyance, and conveyances need a board permit before installation. But section 43-09-27 says the board's rules may not apply to "an elevator located in a single-family private residence," and it does not say whether a home chairlift is covered by that wording. Ask the State Electrical Board and your local building office before work begins.

When did North Dakota start regulating chairlifts?

The conveyance sections of chapter 43-09 date from 2025; section 43-09-28 gave owners six months from July 1, 2025 to register existing conveyances. The State Electrical Board's conveyance rules in Administrative Code chapter 24.1-50-01 took effect July 1, 2026, and adopt the ASME A18.1-2023 standard for platform lifts and stairway chairlifts.

Will an outdoor stairlift handle a North Dakota winter?

Bruno lists its outdoor Elite stairlifts as designed for 0°F to 125°F. NOAA reports average January temperatures of about 4°F to 18°F across the state, but also describes bitterly cold arctic air masses in winter. If the steps are outside, compare the maker's rating with your coldest days, and consider whether an indoor route is possible.

Is there help paying for equipment in North Dakota?

North Dakota Assistive is the state assistive technology program. The AT3 Center lists it for device loans, demonstrations, reuse and a financial loan program, and its site names an Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program. Contact the program directly to ask what it can do for your situation.

Compare models in our stairlift collection, answer a few questions in the stairlift fit check, or take the full assessment if stairs are only one part of the picture. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-09 (sections 43-09-01, 43-09-27, 43-09-28, 43-09-31)
• North Dakota Administrative Code chapter 24.1-50-01, conveyance general provisions (effective July 1, 2026)
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: North Dakota (2022)
• AT3 Center: state assistive technology programs, North Dakota
• North Dakota Assistive
• Bruno Elite Indoor Straight SRE-2010 product page
• Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD product page
• Bruno Outdoor Elite SRE-2010E product page
• Harmar Helix Curved Stairlift product page