How Elevator Inspection Reports Get Filed with TDLR
The short answer
The building owner — not the inspector or the elevator contractor — must file each annual elevator inspection report with TDLR, with all applicable fees, no later than the 30th calendar day after the inspection date (Tex. Health & Safety Code §754.019(a)(3)). TDLR's published filing fee is $20 per unit of equipment. Once the filing is accepted, TDLR's executive director issues a certificate of compliance, which must be displayed in a publicly visible area of the building.
In Texas, the annual elevator inspection is only half the compliance job. The report the inspector writes must then be filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and Chapter 754 of the Health and Safety Code puts that duty on the building owner with a hard 30-day deadline.
This guide covers who files, when, what it costs, and what happens after the report lands — every legal claim cited to the statute or TDLR page that says it. Prime Elevator Corp is a TDLR-registered elevator contractor (license #20478) serving the Houston metro, with scheduled service in DFW.
Who is responsible for filing the elevator inspection report with TDLR?
The building owner is legally responsible for filing — the duty never shifts to the inspector or the contractor. Section 754.019(a) directs the owner to have the equipment inspected annually by a registered elevator inspector, obtain the report, and file it with TDLR's executive director with all applicable fees. TDLR's FAQ adds that an owner may hand the paperwork to an agent but may not delegate the legal responsibility.
| Party | Registration basis | Role in the filing |
|---|---|---|
| Building owner | None required | Selects the inspector, files report and fees, displays the certificate |
| Elevator inspector | §754.017 | Performs the inspection, issues the report to the owner |
| Elevator contractor | §754.0171 | Maintains equipment and corrects deficiencies — does not file |
- Certificate of compliance
- The document TDLR issues to the owner after a timely, complete filing; posted in a publicly visible area of the building.
- Registered elevator inspector
- An individual registered and certified with TDLR under §754.017 to inspect equipment; barred where a conflict of interest exists.
Source: Tex. Health & Safety Code §754.019 — Duties of Owners
What is the deadline to file an elevator inspection report in Texas?
The report and all applicable fees must reach TDLR no later than the 30th calendar day after the date of inspection (§754.019(a)(3)). The clock starts on the inspection date, not the day the report is delivered — though the inspector must issue the report to the owner within five calendar days (§754.016(b)).
The statute also fixes what counts as the filing date. Under §754.019(c), a report is filed on the earliest of personal delivery, the U.S. mail postmark date if properly addressed, or the date of deposit with a commercial courier. A report mailed on day 30 is timely even if TDLR receives it later.
- Owner filing deadline
- 30 calendar days after inspection§754.019(a)(3)
- Inspector report to owner
- 5 calendar days after inspection§754.016(b)
- Deficiency correction
- Corrected or under contract within 30 daysTDLR FAQ; verification files with the report, §754.019(b)
- Accident reporting
- 24 hoursSeparate owner duty, §754.019(e)
Source: Tex. Health & Safety Code §754.016 — Inspection Reports and Certificates of Compliance
How much does it cost to file the report with TDLR?
TDLR's published filing fee is $20 per unit of equipment, submitted with the report. Fees are set by TDLR rule rather than statute, so confirm the current schedule on TDLR's elevator pages before submitting. One carve-out is statutory: no certificate fee may be charged for an institution of higher education (§754.019(d)).
| Item | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Inspection report filing | $20 per unit |
| Late filing fee | $10 per unit, each 30-day period late |
| Waiver or delay application | $50 per violation, per unit |
| Duplicate certificate of compliance | $25 per certificate |
How do you file — online, by mail, or in person?
TDLR operates an Elevator Inspection Online Reporting System for electronic filing, and the statute recognizes personal delivery, U.S. mail, and commercial courier as valid channels (§754.019(c)). Whichever channel is used, the filing must include the completed, signed report and all applicable fees.
The filing must also account for cited deficiencies. Under §754.019(b), the owner submits either verification that deficiencies were remedied or are under a bona fide correction contract, or an application for a delay or waiver of the standard.
- Completed, signed inspection report covering all units in the building
- Per-unit filing fee ($20 on TDLR's current schedule)
- Deficiency verification, correction contract, or waiver/delay application
- Late fees, if the 30-day window has passed
What happens after the report is filed?
TDLR's executive director issues a certificate of compliance to the owner (§754.016(c)). The certificate must be displayed in a publicly visible area of the building (§754.019(a)(4)), and TDLR's FAQ notes it is good for one year and must be applied for annually — so the inspect-file-display cycle repeats every 12 months.
One filing covers the whole building. Under §754.016(a), reports and certificates must cover all equipment in a building and its appurtenant structures, including a parking facility, owned by the same person or persons. Fees, though, are charged per unit.
Source: Tex. Health & Safety Code §754.016(c)–(d) — certificate issuance and display
What happens if the report is filed late — or never?
Late filings accrue TDLR's published late fee — $10 per unit for each 30-day period — on top of the base fee, and sustained non-filing invites enforcement under Chapter 754. TDLR publishes a Late Fee Calculator for the exact amount. The duty does not lapse: §754.019 requires the inspection and filing every year.
Enforcement can escalate well past fees. TDLR's FAQ states the executive director may seek injunctive relief and civil penalties of up to $5,000 per day, per violation. Under §754.0235, an emergency order may direct an owner to disconnect power to or lock out equipment on a finding of imminent danger — or when no annual inspection has been performed in more than two years.
- Late filing fee
- $10 per unit per 30-day periodTDLR published schedule
- Civil penalty exposure
- Up to $5,000 per day, per violationTDLR FAQ
- Lockout trigger
- No annual inspection in 2+ years§754.0235(a)(2)
Source: Tex. Health & Safety Code §754.0235 — Orders to Disconnect Power to or Lock out Equipment
Frequently asked questions
- Does my elevator contractor file the inspection report for me?
- Not by default — the filing duty sits with the building owner under §754.019(a)(3). An owner can delegate the paperwork to a contractor or managing agent, but TDLR's FAQ is explicit that the legal responsibility cannot be delegated. Prime Elevator Corp coordinates scheduling and correction paperwork so the filing goes in complete.
- Can my maintenance contractor's company also perform the annual inspection?
- No. Section 754.017(d) bars a registered inspector from inspecting equipment where the inspector or the inspector's employer has a financial or personal conflict of interest, or the appearance of impropriety. TDLR's FAQ also confirms the owner has the sole right to select the inspector.
- The inspection found violations — can I still file within 30 days?
- Yes, and you must. File on time along with verification that deficiencies were corrected or are under a bona fide correction contract, or an application for a waiver or delay (§754.019(b)). TDLR's published waiver/delay fee is $50 per violation, per unit.
- Is the 30-day deadline counted in business days or calendar days?
- Calendar days. Section 754.019(a)(3) requires filing not later than the 30th calendar day after the inspection is made. Under §754.019(c), a properly addressed report counts as filed on its postmark or courier deposit date, which can preserve a deadline that lands on a weekend.
- How long does TDLR take to issue the certificate of compliance?
- Chapter 754 sets no statutory turnaround; §754.016(c) simply directs the executive director to issue the certificate to the owner. A complete package — signed report, per-unit fees, deficiency verification — avoids the correspondence that most often delays issuance. Contact TDLR for current processing times.
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Last reviewed: 2026-08-05
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