Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Jamaica

Jamaica has no lift-specific inspection or certification law confirmed. Buildings fall under the Building Act (passed 2018; Ministry of Local Government says it came into force on 15 January, posted April 2019, and a law-firm article says 15 January 2019, while a PIOJ terms-of-reference document says 2018). The Act gives legal effect to the National Building Code of Jamaica, and local authorities act as building authorities. The Bureau of Standards Jamaica maintains the code. Per the PIOJ document, the legally effective NBCJ is the 2009 editions of 10 ICC codes plus 10 Jamaican Application Documents published in 2015. ICC and BSJ have published updated Jamaican Standards built on the 2018 I-Codes: the 2023 Jamaica Building Code (first published March 2024), whose Chapter 30 'Elevators and Conveying Systems' covers hoistways, emergency operations, conveying systems, machine rooms, elevator lobbies, fire service access elevators and occupant evacuation elevators. The 2024 Jamaica Property Maintenance Code (June 2024) has section 606 'Elevators, Escalators and Dumbwaiters'. The 2023 code's own preface says the 2009 JBC 'remains the legal code to this date'. Which ASME A17.1 edition applies was not confirmed. Workplace safety is enforced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security under the Factories Act (1943). The Occupational Safety and Health Bill had still not been passed as of October 2026; it was tabled in 2017 and later withdrawn. The Jamaica Fire Brigade reviews building plans and inspects sites against the National Building Code and the Disabilities Act 2014, and lists 'elevators where necessary' among minimum access requirements.

Who regulates lifts

Local authorities (municipal corporations) as building authorities under the Building Act; Bureau of Standards Jamaica maintains the National Building Code; Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Industrial Safety / OSH Department) for workplaces under the Factories Act; Jamaica Fire Brigade for fire plan review

Periodic inspection

Not found for lifts. The 2024 Jamaica Property Maintenance Code has a section 606 on elevators, escalators and dumbwaiters, but its text was not seen. The Jamaica Fire Brigade inspects buildings for fire safety at least annually, which is not a lift inspection.

Installer and maintenance licensing

Not found

Laws, codes and standards

Building Act (2018) — Building Act
Mandatory · Act of Parliament; in force 15 January (2019 per Ministry of Local Government posting of April 2019 and Dunn Cox; 2018 per PIOJ TOR) · Parliament of Jamaica; administered by local authorities as building authorities
Factories Act (1943) — Factories Act
Mandatory · Principal workplace safety law; the OSH Bill intended to replace it has not been passed (Jamaica Observer, Oct 2026) · Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Jamaica Building Code (2023) — 2023 Jamaica Building Code (Jamaican Standard, based on 2018 IBC)
Voluntary · Published by ICC and Bureau of Standards Jamaica (first publication March 2024); its own preface says the 2009 JBC 'remains the legal code to this date', so this edition's mandatory status under the Building Act is not confirmed · International Code Council and Bureau of Standards Jamaica
Jamaica Property Maintenance Code (2024) — 2024 Jamaica Property Maintenance Code (Jamaican Standard, based on 2018 IPMC)
Voluntary · Published by ICC and Bureau of Standards Jamaica (first publication June 2024); declaration under the Building Act not confirmed · International Code Council and Bureau of Standards Jamaica
National Building Code of Jamaica — National Building Code of Jamaica
Referenced by law · Building Act (2018) gives legal effect to the adapted ICC codes; per PIOJ the legally effective set is the 2009 editions of 10 ICC codes plus 10 Jamaican Application Documents published 2015 · Bureau of Standards Jamaica

Lift associations and bodies

Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ)
Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB)
Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Industrial Safety Section (MLSS)

Last verified 2026-10-20. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.