Brief

Councilmembers Adrin Nazarian and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion to re-evaluate the operational elevator mandate for residential and commercial buildings under LAMC Section 92.0109. The motion was referred to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee in August 2025. On June 23, 2026, the committee approved the motion as amended, moving it forward toward full Council consideration.

Full summary

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, seconded by Bob Blumenfield, introduced this motion to address what they argue is an inadequate minimum standard for elevator availability in tall buildings. Under current state and local building codes, including LAMC Section 92.0109, only one operational elevator is required to be available for occupancy in residential or commercial buildings, regardless of how tall the building is or how many elevators were originally installed. The motion contends this standard is increasingly unsafe and inequitable in high-rise and mid-rise buildings where vertical travel is the only practical means of access — creating long wait times, severe crowding, and dangerous conditions during service disruptions or emergencies. The motion specifically flags the situation of buildings constructed with multiple elevators that are nonetheless permitted to operate just one at any given time. The directive asks the Department of Building and Safety, in consultation with the Fire Department, Department on Disability, and the City Attorney, to report back within 90 days on four things: a feasibility analysis of requiring buildings above a certain height threshold — such as 10, 15, or 20 stories — to keep more than one elevator operational at all times; recommended code amendments to implement such a requirement, including possible thresholds based on building height, occupancy type, or number of installed elevators; an evaluation of the public safety, accessibility, and quality-of-life impacts of the current one-elevator minimum in high-rise structures; and options for enforcement, compliance timelines, and hardship exemptions for existing buildings that may struggle to meet a stricter standard. The motion was referred to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee upon introduction in August 2025. Nearly ten months later, on June 23, 2026, the committee approved it as amended. The specific language of those amendments is not included in the available materials, but committee approval moves the file toward a full Council vote. With an expiration date of June 23, 2028, there is time remaining for Council action.

Activity (3)

• 2026-06-23 Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved as amended .
• 2026-06-18 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on June 23, 2026.
• 2025-08-12 Motion referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

Documents (2)

• 2026-06-23 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2025-08-12 Motion · motion