Frame third-party vs. municipal elevator inspection models across US jurisdictions

Steps

1. Identify which of three common US models applies to the target jurisdiction: (1) state agency inspects directly with state-employed inspectors, (2) state agency delegates/contracts jurisdictional authority to municipalities/counties, which may use their own inspectors or licensed third-party agencies, or (3) code requires owner-hired, AHJ-approved third-party/private certified inspectors (typically QEI-certified) with the AHJ performing enforcement/audit rather than the inspection itself.
2. Confirm the specific jurisdiction's model by checking its own regulatory page rather than assuming a uniform national approach — e.g., NYC/Chicago/Florida lean heavily on owner-hired third-party inspection agencies with AHJ enforcement.
3. Check whether the inspecting/witnessing party is required to be independent of the maintenance contractor — a common but not universal requirement.
4. Confirm whether the jurisdiction requires both a private inspection (witnessed/filed) and separate AHJ audit or spot-check enforcement, since these are not mutually exclusive.
5. Document the specific jurisdiction's model explicitly before advising, since terminology like 'third-party inspection' can mean different things depending on the state/city.