Residential dumbwaiters in Boca Raton

Who this is for

Dumbwaiters help people who can still climb stairs but should not carry things while they do, and households where groceries, laundry or a wheelchair battery have to move between floors every day.

• Garage to kitchen in a raised home
• Kitchen to bedrooms for laundry
• Stacked homes and townhouses

Do residential dumbwaiters in Boca Raton need a permit?

Florida's elevator law counts dumbwaiters as conveyances but leaves out hand-operated ones, and the state does not regulate any conveyance serving only one family residence. A powered dumbwaiter in Boca Raton still needs city building and electrical permits through the Building Division.

In a condo building, a dumbwaiter serving shared areas would need a state permit, because Palm Beach County has no contracted local elevator office.[5][6][7][8]

Boca Raton houses and residential dumbwaiters

About 43 percent of Boca Raton homes are detached houses. Mediterranean-style two-storey homes with curved staircases are a familiar Boca Raton type, and they are where curved stair lifts and compact elevators come in.

About 43 percent of Boca Raton homes were built before 1980, against 33 percent across Palm Beach County. Older homes may need a new circuit or some framing before a lift goes in, which the survey checks.

About 24 percent of Boca Raton residents, and 25 percent across Palm Beach County, are 65 or older, well above the share in Miami-Dade or Broward. Many lifts here are planned for long daily use, so seat comfort, battery life and service matter as much as price.[1][2][9]

Boca Raton home values and residential dumbwaiters

The median owner-occupied home in Boca Raton is valued at about $853,200, the highest of the areas we serve. IRS Publication 502 says lifts added for medical care usually do not add value, but elevators generally do, which affects any medical expense deduction.[3][10]

What is different about a home lift in Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County is outside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers only Miami-Dade and Broward, so the stricter High Velocity Hurricane Zone product rules that apply a few miles south do not apply here. Coastal and Intracoastal homes should still check their flood zone and plan any elevator with a float switch if its cab could descend below the base flood elevation.

In condo buildings, a lift that serves shared areas is not a private residence lift. In Palm Beach County the state elevator bureau issues those permits directly, at $325 to install a regulated conveyance, and only registered elevator companies can apply.[11][12][8][6][5]

Permits in Boca Raton

• City of Boca Raton Building Permits: Local building and electrical permits for work inside homes in the city.
• Florida DBPR Bureau of Elevator Safety: Regulates covered elevators directly in Palm Beach County, such as lifts in shared condo areas. Lifts serving only one family residence are not regulated by the bureau.

What does Florida law say about home dumbwaiters?

Chapter 399 defines a dumbwaiter as a hoisting and lowering mechanism with a car of limited size that moves in guide rails and serves two or more landings. It lists hand-operated dumbwaiters as equipment not covered by the chapter. DBPR's elevator bureau says conveyances located in and serving only one family residence are not regulated by the division. Local building and electrical permits can still apply, so your installer should confirm them with your building department.[5][6]

Where does a dumbwaiter fit?

It needs a small vertical run of stacked wall or closet space and a door on each floor. Garage to kitchen is the most common route in Florida homes that sit above parking.

Frequently asked questions