Stair lifts in Fort Lauderdale

Short stays and recovery: rent or buy?

If a parent is staying for the season, or someone is recovering from surgery, a rental can make sense. Fixr puts rentals at $150 to $500 a month, plus a $500 to $1,000 deposit and $800 to $1,200 to install and remove. For longer needs, a reconditioned lift at $1,500 to $2,500 installed may cost less overall.[1]

Outdoor stair lifts near the coast

Salt air is hard on metal. Outdoor stair lifts cost $4,000 to $12,000 nationally and are built to resist the weather and corrosion, but they still need a cover and a yearly service, which Fixr puts at $100 to $200.[1]

Local help with costs

For Florida Medicaid long-term care, Broward residents start with a screening by the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County, on (954) 745-9567.[2]

How stair lifts are planned in Fort Lauderdale

About 40 percent of Fort Lauderdale homes are in buildings of 20 or more units, so a stair lift request here is as likely to be for a two-level condo or townhouse as for a house. Inside your own unit it is a private residence lift; in a shared stairwell, Broward County's Elevator Section is involved.

For houses, the stair is often short: a garage stair on a canal lot or the front steps of a raised mid-century home. Those are good places for a straight or outdoor lift, and on outdoor steps a cover and a battery model matter because of Broward's heavy rain.[8][6][9]

Do stair lifts in Fort Lauderdale need a permit?

Florida's elevator law does not cover stair lifts in private residences, so there is no state permit for a lift in your own Fort Lauderdale home. Broward's Elevator Section acts for the state on shared conveyances, so a lift in a condo stairwell or shared area is a different case. Check with your building department, or ask your installer to, before fitting.[7][6][5]

Fort Lauderdale houses and stair lifts

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.

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.

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.[8][3][4]

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.[14][15][9]

Permits for stair lifts 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.

Battery or mains powered?

Many stair lifts run on batteries that charge when the chair is parked, so the lift keeps working in a short power cut. Fixr gives $3,000 to $5,000 for battery-operated stair lifts and $4,000 to $7,000 for mains electric models. In Florida, where storms can cut power for days, ask how many trips a full battery gives.[1]

Do you need a permit for a stair lift in Florida?

Not from the state. Florida's elevator law lists inclined stairway chairlifts in private residences as equipment it does not cover, and they do not need a state certificate of operation. Some counties or cities may still want an electrical or building permit, so your installer should check with your local building department before fitting.[7]

Does Medicare pay for a stair lift?

Usually not. CMS says home modifications are not covered by Medicare, and stair lifts are not on Medicare's list of covered durable medical equipment. Some veterans, Medicaid long-term care members and taxpayers may find help elsewhere; our paying for it guide explains each option.[10][18]

Frequently asked questions