Need A Stair Lift In Michigan? What Should You Know About Recent Changes In State Laws?

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If you're considering purchasing a motorized stair lift for yourself or a family member who needs assistance getting up and down the stairs in your Michigan home, you may be a bit taken aback at the estimated cost of installation. Until recently, Michigan law required that stairlifts be installed only by a certified commercial elevator contractor, even though these lifts could safely and easily be installed by a technician employed by the stairlift manufacturer. However, changes in this law may significantly reduce the cost of stair lift installation going forward. Read on to learn more about the costs associated with purchasing and installing a stair lift, as well as how the new Michigan law can lower this cost.

How much does a stair lift cost?

The cost of a stair lift can vary depending upon the manufacturer and brand of stairlift, as well as the size and pitch of the stairs on which you'll be installing it. Stair lifts that must make a turn at a landing are generally a bit higher in cost due to the extra labor and machinery involved. In general, you'll pay $1,000 to $2,500 for a straight stair lift that you install yourself. If this stair lift is professionally installed, it can add another $1,000 to $2,500 to the total cost. A stair lift that goes around a landing or curves around a larger staircase is generally unavailable for the do-it-yourself installer and will cost between $5,000 and $15,000 to have installed.

What changes in Michigan law will lower the cost of stair lift installation?

In Michigan, it was—and is—against state law to install a stair lift yourself. Before the recent legislative session, it was also against the law to have a stair lift installed by anyone but an elevator contractor. Because stair lifts and elevators were codified under the same section of law (despite their very different sizes), both were required to be professionally installed. For practical purposes, this law raised the installation cost of stair lifts so significantly that they were unavailable to those on fixed incomes.

However, the Michigan governor recently signed a bill that permits stair lifts to be installed by certified installers trained and employed by the stairlift manufacturer or retail outlet (such as All-Star Lifts). This will lower the cost of professional installation to the same levels as other areas, making stair lifts more affordable for those in all income ranges.


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