NC Elevator Permits Drop 16.6% in Quarter
North Carolina's latest Quarterly Elevator Index shows 32,439 active elevator devices statewide and a decline in new installation permits.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Jobs — General
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The North Carolina Department of Labor released its Quarterly Elevator Index on October 30, 2026, reporting 32,439 active elevator devices statewide. The state issued 221 new elevator device permits in the first quarter of fiscal 2026-2027, down 16.6% from 265 in the same period a year earlier.
Why it matters
The index tracks installation activity and the active equipment base that state inspectors oversee for safe operation. Installation permits and modifications must pass state inspection before equipment is put into service.
North Carolina issued 221 new elevator device permits in the first quarter of fiscal 2026-2027, a 16.6% drop from 265 a year earlier. Mecklenburg County led the state with 61 new permits, followed by Wake County with 17. The index does not include inspection results or injury data.
The players
North Carolina Department of Labor
The state agency that publishes the Quarterly Elevator Index and oversees elevator and amusement device safety through its Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau.
The details
The Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau oversees installation and safe operation of elevators, escalators, personnel hoists, dumbwaiters, moving walkways and accessibility lifts. New installations and modifications must undergo state inspection, equipment must comply with ASME A17.1 safety standards, and permits must be posted at jobsites.
Timeline
October 30, 2026: Department of Labor releases the Quarterly Elevator Index.
First quarter of fiscal 2026-2027: 221 new elevator device permits are issued statewide.
Roadmap
Every new or modified elevator in North Carolina must meet the ASME A17.1 safety standard and pass state inspection before operation. The quarterly permit count is one measure of how much equipment is entering that regulated system.
Contractors planning elevator installations or modifications in North Carolina must obtain approvals before work begins and post permits at the jobsite. Building owners should expect state inspections of new or altered equipment before it is put into service.
The takeaway
Permit activity is a leading indicator of new elevator installations, and a drop of this size suggests slower construction or modernization work across the state. Watching future quarterly releases will show whether the decline persists.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Jobs — General in North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Occupational Health & Safety.
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