Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Bahamas

The Bahamas regulates lifts and escalators through Chapter 43 'Elevators and Escalators' of the Bahamas Building Code, Third Edition 2003, made under the Buildings Regulation Act 1971 and published by the Ministry of Works. Elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, stairway chairlifts and wheelchair lifts must comply with ANSI/ASME A17.1 (manlifts with ANSI A90.1). Installation and maintenance may only be done by an elevator contractor approved by the Minister; every lift or escalator outside a single-family home must be under a full maintenance contract, and the contractor sends the Buildings Control Officer (B.C.O.) a quarterly report. New, altered or moved equipment must be tested in the B.C.O.'s presence and may not operate until a certificate of operation is issued and posted; certificates are valid six months for freight elevators, escalators, building hoists and manlifts and twelve months for dumbwaiters and some other apparatus; accidents must be reported. A 2013 press report quoted the Ministry of Works building controller saying elevators are to be inspected at least once a year by two certified elevator inspectors. In September 2025 Cabinet approved only the public-works parts of a draft new code and ordered the 2003 code amendments consolidated.

Who regulates lifts

Ministry of Works, Buildings Control Division (Buildings Control Officer, B.C.O.) under the Buildings Regulation Act 1971

Periodic inspection

Bahamas Building Code 2003 s.4303.5-4303.6: certificate of operation after inspection, valid 6 months for freight elevators, escalators, building hoists and manlifts and 12 months for dumbwaiters and other lifting apparatus; routine inspection by the B.C.O. with tests by the owner or contractor per the Elevator Safety Code (A17.1). Press report (2013): passenger elevators inspected at least yearly by the Ministry of Works.

Installer and maintenance licensing

Bahamas Building Code 2003 s.4303.2: installation and maintenance only by an elevator contractor approved by the Minister; owners must notify the B.C.O. of their appointed contractor.

Laws, codes and standards

Bahamas Building Code — Bahamas Building Code, Third Edition - 2003, Chapter 43 Elevators and Escalators
Mandatory · Buildings Regulation Act 1971 (Chapter 43 of the Bahamas Building Code) · Ministry of Works, The Bahamas
ANSI/ASME A17.1 — Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving Walks (the 'Elevator Safety Code')
Referenced by law · Bahamas Building Code 2003 s.4301.1(b) and 4301.2(a), as set forth in its Appendix A · ASME / ANSI

Lift associations and bodies

Buildings Control Division, Ministry of Works

Last verified 2026-10-21. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.