Every elevator alteration in Connecticut requires an AMP permit before work begins. Not after. Not during. Before.
The permit is filed by your elevator contractor, not you. Which means you have no automatic visibility into whether it happened. That matters more than most property managers realize.
What AMP Actually Is
AMP stands for Alteration, Maintenance, and Repair. It is the permitting program Connecticut uses to regulate changes to existing elevator equipment. Administered by the DAS Elevator Unit, the same office that issues Certificates of Operation and conducts annual inspections.
The permit exists because elevator systems are life-safety equipment. Any component change that affects operation has the potential to introduce failure modes if done incorrectly or to the wrong code version. The permit forces a paper trail: contractor files scope of work, DAS reviews it against the applicable ASME A17.1 code version, and only after approval can work legally proceed.
The permit is tied to your elevator's DAS registration number. AMP permit history is permanent and accessible to anyone who looks up that number. This matters enormously during property sales. Open or missing permits are visible to buyers, lenders, and their attorneys. For buyers conducting due diligence, see our elevator due diligence checklist.
What Requires a Permit
Major alterations: Full modernization, controls upgrades, hydraulic power unit replacement, cylinder replacement, door operator changes tied to controls work. These require full DAS technical review.
Minor alterations: Component replacements that do not affect fundamental operation. Cab interiors, individual controller cards, valve replacements without power unit change, lighting. Still require a permit, but lighter review.
The line is not always obvious. If a contractor says no permit is needed for any component replacement, ask why. The explanation should reference a specific regulatory basis, not just "it's maintenance."
Routine maintenance does not require a permit. But "like-for-like" is narrower than contractors claim. Different manufacturer, model number, or specification? DAS may classify it as an alteration.
What It Costs
| Project Type | Project Cost | Permit Fee | DAS Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor component | $2,000-$8,000 | $200-$400 | 2-4 weeks |
| Valve / pump unit | $8,000-$20,000 | $400-$700 | 2-4 weeks |
| Controls mod | $25,000-$60,000 | $700-$1,100 | 4-8 weeks |
| Cylinder replacement | $25,000-$60,000 | $700-$1,100 | 4-8 weeks |
| Full modernization | $60,000-$150,000+ | $1,100-$1,500+ | 6-10 weeks |
The fee is 1-2% of project cost. Trivial. The real cost is time. The DAS review window is built into your timeline whether the contractor planned for it or not. For realistic modernization budgets, see our complete elevator modernization cost guide.
The Real Timeline
Published DAS timelines are review windows once a complete application is accepted. Incomplete submissions do not start the clock.
Phase 1 - Submission to acceptance (0-3 weeks): DAS checks completeness. Deficient applications return to contractor with a notice. One deficiency cycle adds 2-3 weeks before technical review even begins.
Phase 2 - Technical review (2-8 weeks): DAS engineers review scope against applicable ASME A17.1. Technical questions add another 2-4 weeks. Peak construction season (spring/fall) pushes queues 2-4 weeks beyond published timelines.
Phase 3 - Permit issuance: Work must begin within 30 days or permit requires renewal.
Realistic total from application to work start: 8-14 weeks for major alterations, 4-8 weeks for minor. A modernization decision made in January cannot realistically have a permitted project underway before April.
What Causes Delays
Incomplete scope submissions. The most common delay. Contractors rush to file thin packages. Missing manufacturer specs, vague scope descriptions, incomplete equipment identification. Prevention: require confirmation the application was accepted as complete, not just submitted.
Incorrect ASME code citations. DAS will not approve scope that lacks citations to the applicable code edition. Connecticut has adopted multiple ASME A17.1 editions. Which applies depends on installation date and subsequent alterations. Pre-1990 equipment is especially problematic.
DAS backlog. The Elevator Unit handles permits for the entire state. Spring and fall queues extend beyond published timelines.
Scope changes after submission. Expanded scope after filing may require amended or refiled applications. An amendment restarts the clock.
After the Permit
An AMP permit authorizes work to begin. It does not authorize return to service.
Before the elevator can operate again, a final DAS inspection is required. The contractor requests it after work completes. An inspector witnesses functional testing, verifies the completed work matches the approved scope. If deficiencies are found, a correction notice issues and a second inspection is required.
Final inspection scheduling adds 2-3 weeks. The elevator cannot legally return to service until the inspection passes.
Total realistic timeline from permit application to elevator return to service for a full modernization: 12-24 weeks. Projects that hit 12 weeks had complete first submissions, minimal backlog, and clean inspections. Projects that run to 24 weeks hit one deficiency cycle, one backlog delay, and one re-inspection.
What to Verify Before Work Starts
The permit process is contractor-driven. But building owners who treat it as "not my problem" create liability that lands on the property.
1. Confirm the permit was filed. Ask for the DAS application number. Every submitted application gets one.
2. Confirm DAS accepted it as complete. A submitted application is not an accepted application. Get written confirmation the review is underway.
3. Confirm the permit was issued before work starts. This is the step most owners miss. If DAS has not issued the permit, work cannot legally proceed. Get the permit number before signing off on a start date.
4. Verify contractor licensure. The permit is only valid when filed by a contractor with active CT DAS elevator contractor license.
Unpermitted elevator work voids insurance coverage, creates DAS enforcement exposure, and is discoverable during property due diligence. Open permits transfer to buyers at closing.
For cylinder work under the ASME A17.1 single-bottom mandate, the AMP process is especially critical. Unpermitted cylinder work creates dual liability: regulatory exposure from unpermitted work plus the original compliance violation.
CT requirements connect to general inspection knowledge - use our checklist to prepare before the state inspector arrives.
For other states, see our state compliance guide.
Testing schedules, license rules, and governing body contacts for all 50 states.