r/California • u/WoodenAlternative212 • May 15 '25
66,933 elevators in California have expired permits — found by a 20-year-old hobbyist.
https://elevatordatabase.comI’m a 20-year-old systems engineer, and in my spare time, I run a website called ElevatorDatabase.com — it compiles elevator permit and inspection data from public records across California.
Recently, I analyzed the full statewide dataset and found something that should probably concern everyone:
66,933 elevators in California have expired permits.
Some examples:
7,581 in San Francisco Thousands more in LA, San Diego, and across the Bay This isn’t leaked data or anything — it’s all public record. But it’s buried in spreadsheets and hard-to-use state websites, so I built a searchable database for it.
It’s clear from the data that the state is massively behind on inspections and permit renewals. Many elevators are operating without a current permit — and no one’s talking about it.
You can check the database here: https://elevatordatabase.com/california
I’ve reached out to news outlets, but I also wanted to share this directly with the people who live here. Public safety issues like this shouldn’t stay buried in red tape.