Reconditioned and rental stair lifts in Tampa

Who this is for

Reconditioned lifts suit straight staircases and anyone who wants a safe lift on a tighter budget. Rentals suit recovery after surgery or an injury, or a parent visiting for a few months.

Do reconditioned and rental stair lifts in Tampa need a permit?

Florida's elevator law does not cover stair lifts in private residences. We have not found a published Tampa or Pinellas rule on stair lift permits, so check with your building department (Tampa's Construction Services Division inside the city) or ask the installer to before fitting.

Many Tampa homes are single-storey, so stair lifts here are often fitted on short entry steps, garage steps or the outside stair of a raised home rather than an indoor staircase.[7][8][4]

Who uses reconditioned and rental stair lifts in Hillsborough

About 27 percent of Pinellas County residents are 65 or older, against 16 percent in Hillsborough. Pinellas has an older population than Hillsborough, and older housing to match.

The median owner-occupied home is valued at about $494,400 in the City of Tampa and $398,400 in Pinellas. IRS Publication 502 says medical lifts usually do not add value, but elevators generally do, which affects any medical expense deduction.

About 59 percent of Pinellas County homes were built before 1980, and the median home dates from 1976; in the City of Tampa the figure is 42 percent. Bungalows in Seminole Heights and Hyde Park and 1960s block ranches in Pinellas often have raised floors with front steps, narrow doorways and older wiring.[2][3][9][10]

Help paying for a reconditioned or rental stair lift in Hillsborough

Medicare usually does not pay for stair lifts, and the VA's HISA benefit excludes stair glides. For Medicaid long-term care, call Senior Connection Center on (813) 740-3888 in Hillsborough (Region D) or the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas on (727) 570-9696 in Pinellas (Region C). Veterans can ask James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital about other help.[11][12][13][5][6][14]

What is different about a home lift in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay is outside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers only Miami-Dade and Broward, so outdoor lifts follow the standard Florida wind rules. Storm surge is the bigger planning point: Hurricane Helene brought 5 to 7 feet of inundation within Tampa Bay in September 2024, and the St. Petersburg tide gauge set a record of 6.31 feet above high tide. FEMA expects a float switch on any elevator that could descend below the base flood elevation.[15][16][17]

Permits in Tampa

• City of Tampa Construction Services Division: Provides all building permit and inspection services for property development in the City of Tampa, including the building and electrical permits for a home lift.
• Pinellas County Building and Development: Building permits in unincorporated Pinellas County; St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other cities run their own building departments.
• Florida DBPR Bureau of Elevator Safety: Regulates covered elevators directly in Hillsborough and Pinellas, such as lifts in shared condo areas ($325 to install a regulated conveyance). Lifts serving only one family residence are not regulated by the bureau.

When does renting stop making sense?

Using Fixr's figures, the fees to install and remove a rental are $800 to $1,200 on top of the monthly rent. After several months, the total can match a reconditioned lift that you own. If you expect to need the lift for more than a few months, compare a purchase quote too.[1]

What to ask about a reconditioned lift

• How old is it, and who refurbished it?
• Which parts were replaced, especially the batteries?
• What warranty comes with it?
• Can the rail be cut to fit my stairs?

Frequently asked questions