Standing and perch stair lifts in Miami

Who this is for

Standing and perch lifts are for riders with good balance and grip who find bending their knees painful. They are not a good choice for anyone who feels faint or unsteady on their feet; ask a doctor or occupational therapist if you are unsure.

Do standing and perch stair lifts in Miami need a permit?

Florida's elevator law does not cover stair lifts in private residences. Miami-Dade's Office of Elevator Safety still lists the inclined stairway chairlift as device class 17 on its permit to install form, so ask your installer to confirm with that office and your city building department whether your address needs a permit before fitting.

In Miami Beach, the city's Elevator Safety Division holds authority over elevators, wheelchair lifts and related equipment, which is worth a call before a lift goes into a condo stairwell or shared area.[6][7][8]

Older Miami homes and standing and perch stair lifts

About 47 percent of Miami-Dade homes were built before 1980, and the median home dates from 1982. Older block homes often have narrow stairs and no obvious shaft space, so the survey checks wall structure, stair width and the electrical panel before a model is chosen.

Miami is a city of apartments: about 52 percent of homes in the City of Miami, and 34 percent across Miami-Dade, are in buildings of 20 or more units. Florida law treats one family's own apartment as a private residence, so a lift inside a two-level unit is a private residence lift, but you will still need the association's written approval first.

About 17 percent of Miami-Dade residents are 65 or older, roughly 1 in 6 people. Planning a lift before it is urgent gives time to compare models and arrange permits.[2][4][6][3]

Help paying for a standing stair lift in Miami-Dade

Medicare does not usually pay for a stair lift, because CMS treats it as a home modification. For Medicaid long-term care in Miami-Dade (Region I), the first step is a screening call to the Alliance for Aging on (305) 670-6500. Veterans should know that the VA's HISA benefit excludes stair glides; health questions go through the Miami VA health care system, whose medical center is on NW 16th Street.[9][10][5][11][12]

What is different about a home lift in Miami-Dade?

Miami-Dade is one of only two Florida counties in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so outdoor lift towers, enclosures and doors must meet the stricter product approvals used there. Homes near the bay, the beaches and canals should check their flood zone, because FEMA expects any elevator that could descend below the base flood elevation to have a float switch or an equal system.

In a condo, Florida law treats a single family's own apartment as a private residence, so a lift inside your unit is a private residence lift. Anything that serves the building's shared areas is not, and follows the state and county elevator rules for public conveyances.[13][14][6]

Permits in Miami

• Miami-Dade County Building (Permitting and Inspection): Building, electrical and mechanical permits in unincorporated Miami-Dade; its fee schedule lists Category 52, residential elevator (private or individual), at $64.38 per elevator.
• Miami-Dade Office of Elevator Safety: A state-contracted elevator jurisdiction. Its permit-to-install form lists inclined stairway chairlifts and inclined and vertical wheelchair lifts as device classes.
• City of Miami Beach Elevator Safety Division: Holds jurisdiction over elevators, wheelchair lifts and related equipment in Miami Beach; permits go to registered elevator companies, not owners.
• City of Miami: Also a state-contracted elevator jurisdiction for the conveyances the state law covers.

What to check before choosing a standing lift

• Can the rider hold the grab handle firmly for the whole ride?
• Is there head clearance along the whole staircase when standing?
• Does the platform fold up so others can still use the stairs?
• Is there a seat belt or hip support on the perch seat?

Frequently asked questions