Elevator reform

Modernize building codes to permit smaller, cost-effective, flexible elevator systems in mid-rise buildings — cutting construction costs and making missing-middle housing feasible on constrained sites.

Streamline permittingUpdated May 2026

What it does: Permits smaller, cost-effective elevators in mid-rise buildings
Works at: State
Cost to government: ~$0 — a code change

Why it matters

The problem

Elevator installation and maintenance in North America costs several times more than in peer countries — driven by larger required cab sizes, labor constraints, and standards unique to this continent. Oversized requirements eat floor area and budgets, making 4–6 story buildings hard to justify.

The fix

Permit smaller, right-sized, modern elevator systems in mid-rise buildings. Less space devoted to oversized shafts means more homes per lot without added height, lower per-unit costs, and mid-sized multifamily buildings that pencil again.

The misconception to defuse early: This reform targets mid-rise buildings only, not skyscrapers — and smaller elevators operate safely in Europe and Asia in buildings up to six stories. Building professionals confirm they dramatically lower construction and maintenance costs.

Craft the policy

What separates versions that produce homes from versions that produce headlines.

Include

Clear limits on height, stories, or units served
Explicitly scope the reform — e.g., mid-rise buildings with a capped unit count — so emergency-responder access concerns are answered in the text itself.
Example language: “…allow passenger elevators… for apartment buildings with at most six stories and at most 24 units in total.”
Smaller elevators in smaller buildings
Right-size the requirement to the building's scale — it's what makes elevators viable in fourplexes and small urban-infill apartment buildings.
Example language: “…allow passenger elevators no larger than those that accommodate a wheelchair.”
Modernized safety requirements
Update codes to permit newer, space-efficient elevator technologies while keeping life-safety protections intact.
Example language: “The state building code council shall adopt, by rule, standards… to allow all passenger and freight elevators to meet the most current version of global safety standards.” — see Washington SB 5156; Connecticut HB 05524

Avoid

Elevator car size as the compromise
Don't retain oversized-car requirements designed around emergency stretchers. Smaller, fully accessible cars work safely in other countries; oversized standards perpetuate the affordability barrier.
Redundant safety measurements
Mandating multiple overlapping systems — two-way phones plus safety cameras plus more — adds cost without proportional safety benefit.

After it passes — implementation checklist

1Set clearly defined, near-term effective dates
2Create a timeline for updating the code as elevator technology evolves
3Specify exactly when elevators are required, what qualifies in smaller buildings, and the compliant alternatives — vague language invites delay and denial
4Answer accessibility concerns directly: pair the reform with ground-floor accessible units or adaptable design standards

Make the case

“This reform targets mid-rise buildings only — not skyscrapers.”

“Smaller elevators operate safely in Europe and Asia in buildings up to six stories.”

“Building professionals confirm smaller elevators dramatically lower construction and maintenance costs — savings that show up in rents.”

Likely allies — and why they show up

Elevators for All: The coalition built for exactly this reform
Home builder associations: The elevator line-item kills mid-rise projects
Building & code official associations: Codes that reflect current technology
Building Design Institute of America: Better buildings from right-sized systems
Center for Building in North America: The research base on elevator costs

Research & resources

ResearchElevator costs in North America vs. peer countriesCenter for Building in North America
Several times higher — from cab sizes, labor constraints, and unique standards
LegislationWashington SB 5156 — smaller, lower-cost elevators in mid-rise apartmentsWashington State Legislature
Supports single-stair buildings and accessible homes on small sites
HubElevators for Allelevatorreform.org
ResearchHousing reform in the states: a menu of options for 2026Mercatus Center

Related playbooks

Single-stair reform

Legalize the small, family-sized apartment buildings most of the world builds — one stair, up to six stories.

Third-party permit approval

Let licensed private reviewers clear permit backlogs when city staff can't keep up.

Office-to-housing conversions

Make it easy to turn empty offices into apartments people actually live in.

Bringing this to your city council?

You don't have to make the case alone. Our chapters have passed policies like this before — join one, or start one, and bring the movement with you.

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All solutions