Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Dominica
Dominica's Building Regulations 2022 (S.R.O. 12 of 2022, gazetted 31 March 2022, made under section 63 of the Physical Planning Act, Chap. 63:05) set out the Commonwealth of Dominica Building Code in a Schedule. The Physical Planning and Development Authority administers it, and its principal reference code is the CARICOM Caribbean Uniform Building Code (CUBiC). Section 1102.2 'Elevators and Escalators' requires all electric lifts, elevators and escalators to be of proprietary manufacture and installed by an approved specialist contractor. Their construction, installation and maintenance must conform to ANSI A17.1 ('Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, and Moving Sidewalks'), unless the Authority approves otherwise. The section also has design rules for lift wells (fire-rated enclosures, a smoke vent, no other services, lightning protection for rooftop machine rooms) and escalators (minimum 610 mm clear width, horizontal treads, solid balustrades, a moving handrail, a maximum 30-degree incline and stop buttons at both landings). Buildings with a lift must also provide common staircases for at least the first five storeys. Section 6 covers construction hoists and platform hoists. Appendix F gives accessible-elevator guidance. No periodic in-service lift inspection regime was found.
Who regulates lifts
Physical Planning and Development Authority (administers the Building Code under the Physical Planning Act)
Periodic inspection
Not found. The code requires maintenance to follow ANSI A17.1 but sets no inspection interval or inspector.
Installer and maintenance licensing
Installation must be carried out by an 'approved specialist contractor' (Building Code 1102.2(a)); no licensing scheme found
Laws, codes and standards
- Physical Planning Act, Chap. 63:05 (2002) — Physical Planning ActMandatory · Enabling Act for the Building Regulations 2022 (section 63) · Parliament of Dominica
- S.R.O. 12 of 2022 (2022) — Building Regulations 2022 (Schedule: Commonwealth of Dominica Building Code)Mandatory · Made by the Minister under section 63 of the Physical Planning Act, Chap. 63:05; gazetted 31 March 2022 · Government of Dominica; administered by the Physical Planning and Development Authority
- ANSI A17.1 — Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, and Moving SidewalksReferenced by law · Commonwealth of Dominica Building Code 1102.2(a), Schedule to S.R.O. 12 of 2022 · ASME / ANSI
Lift associations and bodies
Last verified 2026-10-20. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.