Los Angeles Municipal Code Part 1 General

(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

This article shall be known as the "Los Angeles Elevator Code" a portion of the "Los Angeles Municipal Code" and wherever the word "Code" is used in this article, it shall mean the "Los Angeles Elevator Code". Wherever the word "City" is used in this article, it shall mean the "City of Los Angeles". Wherever the word "Department" is used in this article, it shall mean the "Department of Building and Safety".

(a) The purpose of this Code is to provide for the safety of life and limb, and to promote the public welfare.

(b) Other Limitations. The permissive provisions of this Code shall not be presumed to waive any limitations imposed by other statutes or ordinances of the City of Los Angeles or State of California.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

This Code covers the design, construction, installation, alteration, inspection, maintenance, testing, operation, repairing and licensing of elevators, escalators, moving walks, dumbwaiters, manlifts (including any other

personnel lifts), private residence elevators and inclined elevators, inclined lifts, reciprocating conveyors, wheelchair lifts, inclined stairway chairlifts, private residence inclined stairway chairlifts and wheelchair lifts, their hoistways, and their appurtenances, in the City of Los Angeles.

No person shall construct, install, remove, alter, repair, use or maintain any elevator equipment or related devices regulated by this Code without complying with all applicable provisions.

This Code does not apply to belts, buckets, scoops or roller conveyors, tiering and piling machine hoists, automobile grease hoists, building hoists, skip hoists, mine devices, lift bridges, or freight platform hoists.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(a) If two or more requirements of this Code are not identical or are in conflict, the Code requirement that provides the greater safety to person, property or public welfare shall prevail.

(b) The Superintendent of Building or the Superintendent’s duly authorized representative is empowered to make all interpretations concerning the provisions of this Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

The Elevator Safety Engineers of the Elevator Division, Department of Building and Safety, shall make a written report of each inspection and file that report in the records of the Department. A copy of the report shall be mailed to the owner or person having custody of the elevator.

If, upon inspection of equipment covered by this Code such equipment is found in an unsafe condition, the Department shall thereupon serve a written notice of the findings upon the holder of the operating license stating the time when recommended repairs must be completed except that where the work or repair required is in the nature of an emergency, the neglect of which would endanger human life, such work or repairs may be ordered to be done at once and the equipment ordered sealed and taken out of service.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(a) The Department shall have the power to order the use of any equipment regulated by this Code discontinued for the following reasons:

(1) When in case of emergency, in the opinion of the Safety Engineer, any device covered by this Code is in a condition rendering it unsafe for operation.

(2) For willful failure to comply with requirements issued by the Department for the correction of violations.

(3) For failure to pay fees prior to the issuance of any permit to operate an elevator. Failure to obtain proper permits and to pay permit fees and inspection fee within 60 days after notification shall constitute cause for the Department to prohibit the use of the elevator.

(b) Whenever any construction or work is being done contrary to the provisions of any law, ordinance, rule, regulation or safety standard enforced by the Department, the Superintendent of Building shall issue a written notice to the responsible party to stop work on that portion of the work on which the violation has occurred. The notice shall state the nature of the violation, and no work shall be done on that portion until the violation has been corrected and approval obtained from the Department.

(c) The owner of any building for which equipment regulated by this Code is installed shall notify the Department in writing within 30 days of any change of ownership, managing company or change of address of the party responsible for the equipment.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

Every inhabited building provided with a passenger elevator after the effective date of this Section shall maintain at least one operational passenger elevator serving all occupied levels of the building, regardless of the number or stories.

EXCEPTION: The building may be inhabited for a limited period of time, subject to the approval of the Department, without an operational elevator during periods of elevator maintenance, repair or replacement.

The person who installs or constructs equipment covered by this Code shall notify the Department before such installation is covered and shall in the presence of a representative of the Department subject the equipment and installation to tests of capacity, speed, safety devices, governors, buffers and general operating conditions. All tests shall be made as hereinafter provided.

No person shall construct, reconstruct or install any elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator and other equipment covered in this Code, without obtaining a permit therefor from the Department prior to the commencement of such construction, reconstruction or installation. Before any permit is issued, plan drawings of the equipment intended to be constructed or installed shall be filed with the Department. If they are in compliance with the provisions of this Code, the Department shall endorse thereon by stamping approval, and issuing a permit for the construction, reconstruction or installation of such equipment.

The provisions of the Code are not retroactive except as specifically provided hereinafter; provided however, that any device covered by this Code, found to be in a dangerous condition, or if the design or method of operation in combination with devices used is considered inherently dangerous, or if there is an immediate hazard to those riding on or using such equipment, it shall be the duty of the Department to notify the holder of the operating license of such installation in writing of the existing condition and to order alterations or additions as the Department finds are necessary to eliminate the existing dangerous condition.

The authority of personnel of the Department to enter any building or upon any premise for the purpose of enforcing any provisions of or perform any duty imposed by this Code is set forth in Section 98.0105 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

Any person refusing to comply with or assisting in the violation of any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as specified in Section 98.0105 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

A Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) to use any equipment listed in this article is required to be obtained for each location at which the equipment inspected is located. These certificates shall be issued, provided the equipment is found to be in a safe condition and in conformity with the provisions of this Code. The certificate shall specify the expiration date, the number of passengers and maximum weight to be carried on or in the equipment for which the certificate is issued.

A Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) issued by the Department to operate a passenger elevator, freight elevator or inclined elevator shall be posted in the elevator car. For other devices, the Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) shall be available on the premises.

(a) The Department shall require that every request for inspection be filed at least one day before such inspection is desired: such request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the Department.

(b) It shall be the duty of the person requesting inspection of any equipment regulated by this Code to provide access to and means for proper inspection for such equipment.

(c) The removal of any material necessary to permit an inspection shall be required by the Superintendent of Building by written order. The City shall not be liable for any expense incurred in the removal or replacement of any material required to permit the inspection.

(Amended by Ord. No. 171,668, Eff. 8/28/97.)

Any injury to any person resulting from or caused by equipment, machinery or apparatus as herein mentioned, shall be reported promptly by a responsible party and in no case later than 12 o’clock noon of the first day the office of the Department is open for public business following such accident, to the Department. The responsible party shall immediately remove the equipment from service upon knowledge of any injury. No person shall adjust, repair or replace any part of the equipment on which such injury occurred, until after the Department has made an inspection, which inspection shall be made within 18 hours after receipt of the report of any accident or injury, and shall have authorized such removal, adjustments, repairs or replacement to be made or equipment to be returned back into service. For the purposes of this section, “responsible party,” shall mean any person having possession or custody of or authority or control over any premises whereon any equipment, or device mentioned in this code is installed, whether as owner, lessee, licensee, trustee, mortgagee, management company, or representative, officer, employer or agent thereof, or as building manager or custodian, or in any capacity whatsoever.

The Superintendent of Building shall have the authority to make rules and regulations and to fix safety standards, and to provide for the proper enforcement thereof, as to any equipment or apparatus mentioned in this Code and violation of or failure to comply with any of said rules and regulations or safety standards shall be deemed to be a violation of this Code and shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(a) The Superintendent of Building shall appoint a Board of Examiners consisting of three qualified persons for the purpose of examining Journey-Level Elevator Mechanics, Wheelchair and Inclined Stairway Chairlifts Mechanics, and Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors Mechanics. The Superintendent of Building shall have the authority to establish rules and regulations for the conduct of these examinations.

(b) The Board of Examiners shall hold examinations for Journey-Level Elevator Mechanics, Wheelchair and Inclined Stairway Chairlifts Mechanics, and Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors Mechanics in accordance with rules prescribed by the Superintendent of Building.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(a) No person shall, without a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Examiners as a Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, install, construct, repair, maintain, or reconstruct any elevator, wheelchair and inclined stairway chairlift, vertical reciprocating conveyor or related device regulated by this Code, or its parts, for which a permit is specifically required in LAMC Sections 92.0126 and 92.0129. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

EXCEPTIONS:

1. A person who holds a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Examiners as a Wheelchair Lift Mechanic may install, construct, repair, maintain, or reconstruct any wheelchair and inclined stairway

chairlift for which a permit is specifically required in LAMC Sections 92.0126 and 92.0129.

2. A person who holds a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Examiners as a Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors Mechanic may install, construct, repair, maintain, or reconstruct any vertical reciprocating

conveyor for which a permit is specifically required in LAMC Sections 92.0126 and 92.0129.

(b) The Certificate of Registration shall be required whether the Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Mechanic is employed by an Elevator, Chairlift or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Contractor or by an owner of a building or the owner’s agent.

(c) The term “Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic” or “Elevator Mechanic” for the purpose of this Code shall mean a person who is qualified and registered by the City of Los Angeles to perform or supervise performance of work installing, altering, repairing, servicing, adjusting, maintaining or inspecting all equipment within the scope of this Code.

(d) The term “Wheelchair Lift Mechanic” for the purpose of this Code shall mean a person who is qualified and registered by the City of Los Angeles to perform or supervise performance of work installing, altering, repairing, servicing, adjusting, maintaining or inspecting limited to wheelchair lifts and inclined stairway chairlifts within the scope of this Code.

(e) The term “Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic” for the purpose of this Code shall mean a person who is qualified and registered by the City of Los Angeles to perform or supervise performance of work installing, altering, repairing, servicing, adjusting, maintaining or inspecting limited to vertical reciprocating conveyors within the scope of this Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(a) Every person who desires to be registered as a Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic shall make application to the Department on a form to be provided by the Department.

(b) Each application or registration as a Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic shall be filed with the Department. At the time of filing, the applicant shall pay a filing fee as specified in LAMC Section 98.0414(a). (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

(c) To be eligible for the certificate, the applicant shall have had at least three years experience as an apprentice or helper to an Elevator Mechanic.

(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

Each registered Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic may have assisting them in the performance of their duties, helpers or apprentices who shall not be required to be registered under the provisions of this Code. However, no helper or apprentice shall do or perform any work upon any elevator or its parts of the kind for which a permit is required by LAMC Sections 92.0126 and 92.0129, except when the registered Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic is actually upon the premises on which the work is being done and is personally supervising and directing the work of the helpers or apprentices.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

Each Certificate of Registration issued to a Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic pursuant to the provisions of this Code shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance, unless revoked or suspended. The Superintendent of Building shall have the power to revoke or suspend the certificate for good cause.

(Amended by Ord. No. 174,861, Eff. 11/14/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)

(a) Any Certificate of Registration not previously revoked or suspended for cause shall be renewed on or before 30 days after its expiration date.

(b) The Department shall collect a fee as specified in LAMC Section 98.0414(a)3. from every applicant applying for a renewal of a Registration Certificate for a Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Mechanic. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

(c) A delinquent Elevator Registration Certificate for a Journey-Level Elevator Mechanic, Wheelchair Lift Mechanic or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Mechanic may be renewed at any time within 12 months following the date of expiration. After the first month, the renewal fee shall be increased by 10% for each additional month that the Registration Certificate remains delinquent for up to 12 months following the date of expiration.