Outdoor stair lifts in Fort Lauderdale

Who this is for

An outdoor lift suits someone who can sit and transfer but cannot manage the steps up to the front door. A wheelchair user needs a porch lift or vertical platform lift instead.

Do outdoor 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.[6][7][8]

Fort Lauderdale houses and outdoor 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.[9][4][10]

Help paying for an outdoor stair lift in Broward

Medicare usually does not pay for stair lifts, which CMS treats as home modifications, and the VA's HISA benefit excludes stair glides. For Medicaid long-term care in Broward (Region H), call the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County on (954) 745-9567. Veterans can ask their Miami VA clinic in Sunrise, Hollywood or Deerfield Beach about other options.[11][12][13][5][14]

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.[3][15][2]

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.

Stair lift, ramp or porch lift?

Fixr puts a wheelchair ramp at $1,700 to $5,000 and says the ADA recommends a slope no steeper than 1:12 in new construction, which means 12 inches of ramp for every inch of rise. A porch five steps high needs a very long ramp, which is when an outdoor stair lift or porch lift starts to make sense.[18]

Looking after an outdoor lift in Florida

• Keep the weather cover on when the lift is parked
• Rinse salt spray off the rail if you live near the coast, if the maker allows it
• Park the chair and charge it fully before a storm
• Book a yearly service; Fixr puts stair lift maintenance at $100 to $200 a year

Frequently asked questions