Installing a lift in an existing villa has become a common request, especially for elderly family members, those living on upper floors, or owners planning to lease a separate floor. But a lift is not a piece of furniture placed in a corner; it changes the building structurally, electrically and architecturally, and needs a shaft, a foundation and openings in the slabs. This guide explains adding a lift to an existing building: the permit required, the technical requirements, internal vs. external shafts, and the steps from idea to operation.
Does a Lift Need a Permit?
Building a lift shaft or cutting slabs is a modification of the building's components, done through Balady's adding and modifying building components service, which requires a building permit and a contract with an engineering office. Read: Modifying building components. If the building has no permit or breaches it, start with status rectification. Read: Which permit does an existing building need?
Technical Requirements
- Structural: studying the shaft location, cutting and strengthening slabs, and the shaft's foundation or pit. See our structural inspection reports service.
- Electrical: supplying the lift within the loads, which may require increasing the meter's capacity. Read about our electrical load calculation service.
- Safety: fire protection requirements for the shaft in multi-storey buildings, and a rescue system for power cuts.
- Space: room for the shaft and a machine room, or a machine-room-less system.
- Architectural: door positions on each floor, without blocking circulation or escape routes.
Internal or External Shaft?
| Internal shaft | Adjoining external shaft | |
|---|---|---|
| Structural change | Greater: slab cutting and strengthening | Less: connects to the building at each floor |
| Internal space | Takes part of rooms or halls | Preserves internal spaces |
| Facade | Unchanged | Changed, needing architectural treatment |
| Requirements | Within the existing building's limits | Affected by setbacks and site requirements |
The decision is made after the structural assessment and the requirements review, not before.
Types of Home Lift System
- With a machine room: usually needs a room above the shaft.
- Machine-room-less (MRL): saves space and suits many villas.
- Hydraulic: suited to a limited number of floors, needing space for the pump unit.
The system choice affects the shaft dimensions, pit depth and electrical loads, so it is set before the structural design.
Steps From Idea to Operation
- A site visit to identify the proposed shaft location.
- A structural assessment of the building and the cut locations.
- Choosing the lift system with a specialised lift company.
- Preparing the drawings (architectural, structural, electrical) and submitting the adding and modifying components application.
- Construction under engineering supervision: foundation, shaft and strengthening.
- Installing, testing and commissioning the lift.
Common Mistakes
- Cutting slabs without a structural assessment.
- Buying the lift before knowing the shaft dimensions available.
- Overlooking electrical loads and meter capacity.
- Building an external shaft in a setback without reviewing the requirements.
Advice When Building a New Villa
Even if you do not need a lift now, leave a shaft or structural void for it in the design. The cost today is far lower than modifying later. Read: Villa building regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a lift be installed in any villa?
It depends on the available space, the structural assessment and the site requirements.
Who installs the lift?
A specialised lift company, according to drawings approved by an engineering office.
Does a lift affect the occupancy certificate?
Adding it without a permit makes the building non-conforming; adding it with a permit documents it among the building's components.
Does a lift need regular maintenance?
Yes, under a maintenance contract with a specialised company to keep it safe.
Can a lift be installed in an old apartment building?
Often yes, on the same principles, taking into account the higher safety requirements of multi-unit buildings.
Related Guides
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that assesses your building structurally, identifies the best location and system for the lift, prepares the drawings and handles the addition permit and construction supervision. Learn about our adding and modifying components service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.
