14 DCMR § 14-1205
ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE
Operative Text
1205.1 The owner of any apartment building or a house consisting of five (5) or more floors which contains one (1) or more elevators shall maintain the elevators in good working order. 1205.2 Any alterations, repairs, or replacements necessary to maintenance or restoration of elevator service shall be provided by the owner promptly after the stoppage or malfunction in order that service is restored as soon as reasonably possible. 1205.3 Any alterations, repairs, or replacement of elevator service shall comply with the Elevator Code of the District of Columbia, effective November 3, 1977 (D.C. Law 2-36; Title 5E-1 DCRR).
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-1205, owners of apartment buildings or houses with five or more floors that include at least one elevator are required to keep those elevators in good working order. When an elevator stops working or malfunctions, the owner must arrange for repairs, alterations, or replacements promptly so that service is restored as soon as reasonably possible. All such work must conform to the Elevator Code of the District of Columbia.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-1205 places the responsibility for elevator upkeep squarely on building owners. Compliant operators typically establish routine maintenance schedules, respond to outages or malfunctions without delay, and ensure that any repair or replacement work is performed in accordance with the District of Columbia Elevator Code. Keeping records of maintenance visits, service calls, and completed repairs is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-1205 establishes that tenants in qualifying multi-floor buildings have a right to functioning elevator service, with the owner obligated to restore it promptly after any stoppage or malfunction. Tenants who experience prolonged elevator outages may consider documenting the issue in writing and notifying building management, as the provision sets a clear standard of timely repair. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the District of Columbia's housing inspection authorities or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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