Committee sends housing-code fix to ensure existing low‑rise buildings keep at least one working elevator

The Land Use and Transportation Committee approved an amendment and voted to send an ordinance to the full board that would require certain existing residential buildings to maintain at least one operable elevator for residents' use.

Lorenzo Rosas, presenting on behalf of Supervisor Stephanie, said the proposed change fixes a discrepancy between the housing code and the city’s fire code that has allowed owners of some three‑ and four‑story buildings to let elevators fall into disrepair. "This discrepancy in the code has led to a situation where owners of 3 and 4 story buildings have been able to allow their elevators to go into disrepair with no intention of fixing them," Rosas said, noting the change applies only to existing buildings and not to new construction.

Department of Building Inspection staff told the committee that housing inspectors currently cannot issue citations for inoperable elevators in R‑1 and R‑2 buildings under 50 feet; the ordinance would allow DBI to cite those elevators and require repairs. Committee members added and read into the record a new finding observing that "the lack of a functioning elevator can create extreme hardship for residents, especially those who are seniors or persons with disabilities."

A public commenter described an episode in which two elevators in his high-rise were out of service for nearly a week, emphasizing the hardship for older residents who rely on elevators. The committee voted to incorporate the amendments and send the item as amended to the full board on a unanimous recorded vote.