How long can an elevator be out of service?

The short answer: there is no single national deadline. The ADA requires accessible features in covered buildings to be kept in working order, and repairs to be made with reasonable promptness, but it does not publish a nationwide number of days. State and provincial authorities, the elevator safety code, and the nature of the fault all shape the timeline. This page explains the US and Canadian framing so a manager or board can act sensibly while a car is down.

Why there is no one number

An elevator can be out of service for an hour, a day, or several weeks. A reset or a door sensor may clear the same day; a damaged machine, a controller, or a part on back-order can take much longer. Because the repair time depends on the fault and the parts, the rules focus onbehavior — maintenance, prompt repair, communication, and access — rather than a fixed clock.

In the United States: ADA and accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law. For buildings it covers, it requires accessible features to be maintained in operable working condition. Where an elevator is part of the accessible route, an owner or manager should not simply let it sit out of service without a plan.

• Repair with reasonable promptness. The obligation is to address the problem without unreasonable delay. That can mean ordering parts, scheduling the service company, and following up until the car is back in service.
• Look at the accessible route. If the elevator is the only step-free way in, think about how people who cannot use stairs are served while it is down. Options vary by building — a temporary accessible entrance, moving a service to a reachable location, or arranging staff assistance.
• ADA elevator requirements are not a repair deadline. The law requires access, not a specific number of repair days. State and local rules may add firmer requirements.

State and city rules matter

Elevator regulation in the US is largely state and local. Many states run their own elevator inspection program, and some cities do too. Two places readers ask about by name:

• New York City. The NYC Department of Buildings oversees elevator inspections, permits, and violations. The city has its own expectations for how quickly an out-of-service car is restored.
• California. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Elevator Unit regulates elevators in the state, with its own inspection and permitting rules.

Your elevator service company or your city or state building department can confirm which authority applies to your building.

The inspection certificate

An elevator inspection certificate shows that a jurisdiction or its authorized inspector has checked the car and found it to meet the applicable code. In many places it must be posted in the car or be available on request, and it lists the unit number and an expiry date. It is a good first thing to photograph when an elevator goes out of service, because it tells you the unit's identity and who inspects it. Elevator inspection requirements vary widely, so treat the certificate as a starting point, not a legal opinion.

In Canada: provincial authorities

Canada has no single national elevator deadline either. Elevators are regulated by the provinces, most of which adoptCSA B44, the Canadian half of the jointASME A17.1 / CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, with local amendments. The authority differs by province:

• Ontario — the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) licenses and inspects elevating devices.
• British Columbia — Technical Safety BC.
• Alberta — the provincial elevating devices program, delivered through a delegated safety association.
• Quebec — the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ).

Condo corporations and strata councils are responsible for their building's elevating devices, including keeping them licensed and inspected and arranging repairs with the applicable provincial authority.

What "reasonable" looks like in practice

Since the rules focus on behavior, the defensible approach is the same in most places:

1. Respond promptly. Report the fault to the service company the day it happens, and keep the call reference.
2. Track the repair. Know the diagnosis, the part needed, and the expected date. Follow up in writing.
3. Protect access. Put a plan in place for people who cannot use stairs, and tell them what it is.
4. Communicate. Send a clear notice to residents and update it as the date slips or improves.
5. Record everything. Keep the incident log, service reports, inspection certificate, and any regulator correspondence together.

Related reading

• Notice to residents — the letter, email, and lobby sign to send while the car is down.
• Stuck in an elevator? — the emergency guide for anyone in a stopped car.

General information only — not legal advice. Rules differ by state and province; confirm details with your elevator service company and your local or provincial elevator authority.