Person's finger pressing elevator button

Residential elevators

Need assistance?

If you:

Need immediate evacuation from a building with an out-of-service elevator, phone 911
Are safe and it is not urgent, call the VPD non-emergency line: 604-717-3321

Many residential buildings in Vancouver have elevators that residents depend on to access their home. Building owners are responsible for:

Maintaining and repairing elevators
Keeping them in working condition at all times

All elevator maintenance and repairs must be completed as quickly as possible to reduce elevator outages.

What you need to know if you have a non-functioning elevator in your building

Safety regulations
City of Vancouver
- We ensure elevators are operational under the Standards of Maintenance By-law Section 11A (107 KB) using our authority under the Vancouver Charter.
- Residential elevators should be operational at all times; planned and unplanned outages must be resolved as quickly as possible.
- Compliance is monitored by our property use inspectors.
Province of BC
- The Province regulates elevator safety standards under the Safety Standards Act .
- Elevators must be inspected and serviced regularly .
- Compliance is monitored by Technical Safety BC .
If you live in a building with an elevator
Building owners are responsible for keeping elevators in working condition. Planned and unplanned elevator outages must be resolved as quickly as possible.

Need assistance?

If you:
- Need immediate evacuation from a building with an out-of-service elevator, phone 911
- Are safe and it is not urgent, call the VPD non-emergency line: 604-717-3321
What you can do if your elevator is out-of-service
- Contact your landlord, property manager, or strata to confirm details on the repair, length of time the elevator will be down, and any support services they have available. If you have mobility issues, let them know. It’s okay to follow-up with them regularly for updates.
- Check on your neighbours, especially those with mobility challenges. Can you help them up and down the stairs? Could you run errands or pick up meals while the elevator is shut-down?
- Plan ahead and be prepared; even the most reliable elevator will be down for planned service or unexpected maintenance.
- Download suggested tips on how to prepare for an elevator outage (75 KB)
Elevator out-of-service for an extended period of time?

If an elevator in your building has been out-of-service for an extended period of time and you have not been able to get any information about how long it will take to repair:
- Phone 3-1-1 to report a complaint.
- Report a complaint using Van311.
- Review resources and help for additional resources
We have tools available to help ensure building owners and operators keep their elevators operational, such as immediate orders to repair and in some cases, referral to prosecution.

Additional actions you can take

Research before you move into the building. Ask:
- About elevator reliability; request information about how often the elevator has been out of service in the past 24 months
- To see the depreciation report (strata buildings) or capital plan (co-ops) to see when the elevator was last replaced or renewed. Are there any up-coming projects that will put the elevator out of service for an extended period?
- If the building has a plan for supporting residents when elevators are out of service and to see a copy of the plan
If you own, operate, or manage a building with an elevator
You are required to maintain and service your elevators. Elevators that are out of service have significant impacts on residents.
- Plan ahead, communicate, and assist residents (especially those with mobility challenges) when elevators are out of service.
- Review our checklist on how to assist residents (113 KB) and ensure you have everything covered.
- Download suggested service notices (40 KB) for planned and unplanned outages.
- Learn about:
  - Provincial regulations
  - Safety standards general regulation
  - Your responsibility for elevator safety and maintenance (Section 21) (including regular service and inspection by a provincial certified technician)
- Compliance is monitored by Technical Safety BC .
- Learn about your responsibility under City by-law (107 KB) to keep elevators in operating condition.
Review resources and help for additional information
Resources and help
Strata property owners
Rental property owners
Co-op housing
Renters
- BC Residential Tenancy Branch
- Tenants Resource and Advisory Centre
Seniors
- BC211 is a Vancouver-based, nonprofit that offers a range of social supports. Explore the available services, for example Safe Seniors, Strong Community or phone 2-1-1 for information.
- Seniors support, outreach, and networking
Persons with disabilities

The Right Fit matches wheelchair users to accessible housing.

Residential elevators

Need assistance?

What you need to know if you have a non-functioning elevator in your building

Safety regulations

If you live in a building with an elevator

If you own, operate, or manage a building with an elevator

Resources and help

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies