Residential dumbwaiters in Fort Lauderdale

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 Fort Lauderdale need a permit?

A dumbwaiter serving only your home is not regulated by the state elevator bureau, and Florida's elevator law leaves out hand-operated dumbwaiters. In Fort Lauderdale the installer files the city building and electrical permits for a powered unit.

Waterfront homes on the canals often have the garage and kitchen on different levels, which is the classic dumbwaiter run. If the shaft bottom sits below flood level, keep the motor and controls up high.[5][6][7]

Fort Lauderdale houses and residential dumbwaiters

Only about 33 percent of Fort Lauderdale homes are detached houses, against 40 percent across Broward. Where a canal-side house has its garage at street level and bedrooms above, a compact elevator or a stair lift on the garage stair is usually the shortlist.

Fort Lauderdale has some of the oldest housing in South Florida: about 64 percent of homes were built before 1980 and the median home dates from 1973. Older block homes can need extra framing, wider doorways or electrical upgrades before a lift goes in.

About 19 percent of Broward residents are 65 or older. Fort Lauderdale's older housing means many homes have steps at the entrance as well as inside.[1][2][8]

Fort Lauderdale home values and residential dumbwaiters

The median owner-occupied home in Fort Lauderdale is valued at about $579,300. IRS Publication 502 notes that lifts added for medical care usually do not add value, but elevators generally do, which changes how much of the cost may count as a medical expense.[3][9]

What is different about a home lift in Broward?

Broward and Miami-Dade are the two Florida counties in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. That matters most for outdoor elevators and porch lifts, whose enclosures, doors and glazing must meet the stricter product rules. Waterfront and canal-side homes should also check their flood zone, because FEMA expects a float switch or equal system on any elevator that could descend below the base flood elevation.

Heavy rain floods low streets here too: on April 12 and 13, 2023, the National Weather Service measured more than 20 inches of rain near Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and found still water just over 3 feet deep in Edgewood. Any elevator pit, porch lift base or battery in a low spot needs a plan for that.[10][7][18]

Permits in Fort Lauderdale

• Broward County Building Code Division, Elevator Section: Handles elevator permits and certificates of operation in Broward under contract with the state for conveyances the law covers.
• City of Fort Lauderdale and other Broward cities: Issue local building and electrical permits for work inside homes. Your installer confirms the route for your address.

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.[6][5]

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