Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Belize
Belize now has a national building code covering lifts. The Belize Building (Prescription of National Building Code) Regulations, 2025 (SI No. 80 of 2025) prescribe the Belize Building Code (2024 Belize Building Code, ICC, based on the 2021 International Building Code) under the Belize Building Act, Cap. 131. Its Chapter 30 'Elevators and Conveying Systems' governs design, construction, installation, alteration and repair of lifts; section 3001.3 requires design, construction, installation, alteration, repair and maintenance of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walks and material lifts to conform to ASME A17.1-2019/CSA B44-19 or ASME A17.7/CSA B44.7, and platform lifts and stairway chairlifts to ASME A18.1-2020 (or an equivalent approved by the building official). It also sets fire-fighter recall operation (3003.2), stretcher-size cars in buildings of four or more storeys (3002.4), emergency two-way communication (3001.2) and fire signage (3002.3). The Minister said in May 2025 the code applies to public buildings for now and that buildings over three storeys need a lift. The Central Building Authority enforces the Act. No periodic inspection regime or installer licensing was found.
Who regulates lifts
Central Building Authority (Belize Building Act, Cap. 131); Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing issued the code
Periodic inspection
Not found. The code requires maintenance to conform to ASME A17.1/CSA B44 but no inspection interval or inspector was found.
Installer and maintenance licensing
Not found
Laws, codes and standards
- Belize Building Act, Cap. 131 — Belize Building ActMandatory · Cap. 131, Revised Edition 2020; amended by Act No. 12 of 2025 · National Assembly of Belize
- Belize Building Code (2024) — Belize Building Code (Schedule to the Belize Building (Prescription of National Building Code) Regulations, 2025)Mandatory · SI No. 80 of 2025 under s.37(2)(k) of the Belize Building Act, Cap. 131 · Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing / International Code Council
- ASME A17.1/CSA B44 (2019) — Safety Code for Elevators and EscalatorsReferenced by law · Belize Building Code 2024, s.3001.3, Table 3001.3 and Chapter 35 · ASME / CSA Group
- ASME A18.1 (2020) — Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway ChairliftsReferenced by law · Belize Building Code 2024, Table 3001.3 and Chapter 35 · ASME
Lift associations and bodies
- Central Building Authority (CBA)
- Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH)
- Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS)
Last verified 2026-10-20. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.