Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 151 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 151-81
Elevators, escalators and dumbwaiters
Operative Text
A. General. Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators shall be maintained to sustain safely all imposed loads, to operate properly and to be free from physical and fire hazards. The most current certificate of inspection shall be on display at all times within the elevator or attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter, or the certificate shall be available for public inspection in the office of the building operator. B. Elevators. In buildings equipped with passenger elevators, at least one elevator shall be maintained in operation at all times when the building is occupied. Exception: Buildings equipped with only one elevator shall be permitted to have the elevator temporarily out of service for testing or servicing.
Section 151-81 of Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 151 establishes maintenance and operational standards for elevators, dumbwaiters, and escalators in buildings. These vertical transportation devices must be kept in safe working condition, free from physical and fire hazards, and capable of handling their intended loads. A current inspection certificate must be either displayed inside or on the equipment, or made available for public review at the building operator's office. In buildings with passenger elevators, at least one elevator must remain operational whenever the building is occupied, with a narrow exception allowing a single-elevator building to take that elevator offline temporarily for testing or servicing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to § 151-81 of Amherst's Code of Ordinances generally keep all elevators, escalators, and dumbwaiters under a regular maintenance schedule that addresses load capacity, operational reliability, and hazard prevention. Compliant operators ensure that the most current inspection certificate is either posted inside the elevator or on the escalator or dumbwaiter, or kept accessible for public review at the building office. In multi-elevator buildings, operators typically schedule maintenance and servicing in a way that keeps at least one passenger elevator running at all times the building is occupied, reserving full shutdowns only for the limited testing or servicing exception applicable to single-elevator buildings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 151-81 of Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 151, tenants in buildings with passenger elevators have a right to expect that at least one elevator remains in service whenever the building is occupied, and that all vertical transportation equipment is maintained safely. If an elevator is out of service for reasons beyond the narrow testing or servicing exception, or if a valid inspection certificate is not posted or available, these may constitute code violations that can be reported to the appropriate Amherst code enforcement or building inspection authority. Tenants who believe this provision is being violated may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand the range of options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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