On this page
These are not ordinary renovations. An elevating device carries people, depends on a safe electrical supply and has to be anchored to stairs, floors or a shaft that can take the load. Provinces regulate elevating devices, and in Quebec only a contractor holding the right licence may do construction work on them. The installer's training and the manufacturer's instructions matter as much as the product itself.
Good planning starts with the person who will use the lift: how they move, whether they transfer from a wheelchair, and how their needs may change. From there, an installer looks at the stairs, the space on each level, the structure and the electrical panel, and proposes the device that fits. Funding programs and a federal tax credit can help, but check each one's steps before you sign a contract, since some expect to review the project first.
Types of home lifts: stair lifts, platform lifts and residential elevators
- Straight stair lift: a chair on a rail that follows one straight flight, usually the simplest to fit because the rail fastens to the treads rather than to the wall.
- Curved stair lift: a rail made to measure to follow landings, turns or a spiral stair, measured on site and built for that one staircase.
- Vertical platform lift: an open or enclosed platform that raises a person standing or seated in a wheelchair over a short height, often from the ground to a porch or from the garage to the main floor.
- Inclined platform lift: a platform that travels along the stairs, for wheelchair users who can't transfer to a seat.
- Residential elevator: a cab in its own shaft that serves two or more floors; it takes space on each level but carries a wheelchair, a helper or the groceries as easily as one person.
Stair lift, platform lift or home elevator: which suits your home
A stair lift is often the quickest answer when the person can still take a few steps and transfer safely to a seat, and the staircase is wide enough to let others pass once the seat is folded. It doesn't help someone who has to stay in a wheelchair, and it carries one person at a time, so a second wheelchair or a walker still has to be carried up.
Platform lifts and home elevators suit wheelchair users and households planning for the long term. A vertical platform lift can solve an entrance with a few steps where a ramp would be too long for the lot, while an elevator changes the layout of the house and needs space stacked on every floor it serves, but works for everyone in the household. An occupational therapist's assessment helps match the device to how the person moves today and is likely to move later.
Rules for elevating devices in Ontario and Quebec: TSSA, RBQ and licensed installers
In Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) regulates the safety of elevating devices. Its page on what is regulated lists private dwelling houses used exclusively by the occupants and their guests as exempt, unless the owner requests in writing that the rules apply to them, and TSSA offers a questionnaire to help decide whether a home qualifies. If the home is used by more than the people who live there and their guests, the exemption may not apply, so check with TSSA before you buy.
In Quebec, elevators and other elevating devices are subject to chapter IV of the Construction Code and chapter IV of the Safety Code, overseen by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). The RBQ states that construction work on these devices requires the appropriate contractor licence: subclass 14.1 covers elevators and similar equipment, and subclass 14.2 covers lifting devices designed specifically to carry people with disabilities under the CSA B355 standard. Ask for the licence number and check it in the RBQ's register.
Everywhere, the power supply for a lift is electrical work. In Ontario, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) says a notification should be filed before the work starts; in Quebec, the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ) reminds owners that only an electrical contractor may do electrical work for others. Structural changes, such as opening floors for a shaft or building a landing for an outdoor lift, usually need a municipal building permit as well.
Installing a home elevator or stair lift: space, structure and electrical needs
- Assessment: the installer or an occupational therapist looks at how the user moves, whether they transfer or stay in a wheelchair, and who else uses the stairs.
- Measuring: a stair lift rail needs a clear, sound staircase, while an elevator needs a footprint that lines up on every floor it serves, plus room above and below the shaft.
- Structure: the installer checks what the rail, platform or shaft will bear on; an elevator often calls for framing changes, a pit or a reinforced floor, designed by an engineer or following the manufacturer's requirements.
- Electrical supply: most lifts need a dedicated circuit or an outlet for the charger, installed by a licensed electrician before the device is connected.
- Outdoor units: an exterior platform or stair lift needs a solid base, drainage and a plan for snow and ice, so the controls and the landing stay usable all winter.
- Commissioning: the installer tests the device, shows everyone how to use the controls and the emergency features, and leaves the manual, the warranty and the service contact.
Maintaining a stair lift, platform lift or residential elevator
- Follow the service schedule in the manufacturer's manual, and have the servicing done by a technician trained on that device rather than a general handyman.
- Keep the rail, the track and the landings free of objects, pet hair and debris, and never let children ride the lift or play with the controls.
- Test the safety sensors, the seat belt and the emergency stop the way the manual describes, and call for service as soon as one doesn't respond.
- With a battery-powered stair lift, park the chair where the manual says; left away from its charging point, it can run the battery down.
- In Quebec, the RBQ's Safety Code sets requirements for the use, maintenance and upkeep of elevators and other elevating devices, so ask your installer which ones apply to your device.
- Keep service records with the permit and inspection papers; they help with warranty claims and when the house is sold.
Funding for stair lifts and home elevators: tax credit and adaptation programs
The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit can apply to a lift when the work is of an enduring nature, becomes part of the home of someone who is 65 or older at the end of the year or eligible for the disability tax credit, and helps them get around the dwelling or reduces their risk of harm. The Canada Revenue Agency also lets an expense that qualifies as a medical expense be claimed under both credits. Our accessibility equipment page explains the credit in more detail.
Provincial help exists too. In Quebec, the Société d'habitation du Québec's home adaptation program (Programme d'adaptation de domicile, or PAD) gives owners financial assistance for adaptation work in a dwelling occupied by a person with a disability; check whether registrations are open before planning around it. In Ontario, the Home and Vehicle Modification Program, under the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, lists stairway lifts and platform lifts among eligible items for permanent residents whose disability limits their mobility, and the province directs applicants to March of Dimes Canada to apply. Read each program's rules before signing a contract.
Home Elevators & Lifts: frequently asked questions
Should I choose a stair lift or a home elevator?
It depends mostly on whether the person can transfer to a seat. A stair lift suits someone who can still stand briefly and sit down safely; a platform lift or an elevator suits someone who must stay in a wheelchair, or a household whose needs will change. An occupational therapist can help you decide before you buy.
Does TSSA regulate stair lifts and elevators in private homes in Ontario?
TSSA lists private dwelling houses used exclusively by the occupants and their guests as exempt, unless the owner asks in writing to be covered. Use TSSA's questionnaire if you're unsure whether your home qualifies, and still hire a trained installer and a licensed electrician.
Who can install a stair lift or platform lift in Quebec?
A contractor holding the right RBQ licence. Subclass 14.2 covers lifting devices designed specifically for people with disabilities, and subclass 14.1 covers elevators. The electrical connection is done by an electrical contractor.
Do I need a permit for a home elevator?
Usually, yes, for the building work: opening floors, framing a shaft or building an outdoor landing generally needs a municipal building permit, and the electrical work follows its own rules. Ask the installer who applies for what before the work starts.
Can I install a stair lift myself?
It isn't a do-it-yourself job. The rail has to be anchored correctly, the safety devices set up and tested, and any wiring done by a licensed electrician; in Quebec, construction work on these devices is reserved for licensed contractors. A poor installation puts the user at risk and can affect the manufacturer's warranty.
Sources
- TSSA: Am I regulated?
- RBQ: Overview of the regulations for elevators and other elevating devices
- RBQ: Equipment covered by chapter IV of the Construction Code
- RBQ: Contractor licence for elevators and other elevating devices
- RBQ: Check a contractor's licence
- Electrical Safety Authority: Notifications and inspections
- CMEQ: A licence is mandatory
- Canada Revenue Agency: Line 31285, Home accessibility expenses
- Government of Quebec: About the home adaptation program (PAD)
- Government of Ontario: Home and Vehicle Modification Program
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Reviewed by Zubair Afzal on September 10, 2026. How we write and check our guides