Ride Regulation Agencies In Each State
The regulation or oversight on amusement parks is inconsistent across the United States. There is no federal agency or laws that are in place to oversee the parks and rides and the federal government gives each state the discretion on regulating its parks. Some states may have government oversight, partial government oversight, regulations only on inspections, or no regulation agencies. Below is a list of all 50 states and their regulation agencies. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates the hazards of carnivals, and investigates accidents or reported injuries that occur across the United States except for permanent amusement park rides.
Regulating Agencies
Alabama – No regulation agency
Alaska -Department of Labor
Arizona – No regulation agency
Arkansas – Department of Labor
California – Division of Occupational Safety and Health
Colorado – Division of Oil and Public Safety
Connecticut – Department of Consumer Protection
Delaware – Office of State Fire Marshal
Florida – Department of Agriculture
Georgia – Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
Hawaii – Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Idaho – Division of Building Safety
Illinois – Department of Labor
Indiana – Department of Homeland Security
Iowa – Workforce Development
Kansas – Department of Labor
Kentucky – Department of Agriculture
Louisiana – State Fire Marshal
Maine – Department of Public Safety
Maryland – Department of Safety, Licensing, and Regulation
Massachusetts – Department of Public Safety
Michigan – Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Minnesota – Department of Labor and Industry
Mississippi – No regulation agency
Missouri – Division of Fire Safety
Montana – No regulation agency
Nebraska – Department of Labor and the Office of Safety
Nevada – No regulation agency
New Hampshire – Department of Safety
New Jersey – Department of Community Affairs
New Mexico – Regulation and Licensing Department
New York – Department of Labor, except for New York City
North Carolina – Department of Labor
North Dakota – No regulation agency
Ohio – Department of Agriculture
Oklahoma – Department of Labor
Oregon – Oregon Building Codes
Pennsylvania – Department of Agriculture
Rhode Island – Building Commission
South Carolina – Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
South Dakota – No regulation agency
Tennessee – Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Texas – Department of Insurance
Utah – No regulation agency
Vermont – Corporations Division of the Secretary of State
Virginia – County Governments
Washington – Department of Labor and Industries
West Virginia – Safety Section of the Division of Labor
Wisconsin – Safety and Building Division of the Department of Commerce
Wyoming – No regulation agency
Importance of Regulations
Parents should be knowledgeable about the regulations and the oversight of amusement and carnival rides. The more regulations of rides, inspections, investigations and reporting requirements of accidents, the more likely the state is to have safer parks and rides. If you and your family love to travel to different states for amusement parks or are planning a family vacation, check out this list so you can be aware of the regulations on rides in that state.
Getting Help
If you or your loved one has been injured on an amusement park ride or carnival ride, call us and speak with an attorney about your injuries and your case as soon as possible. We will be able to assist you in getting the compensation that you deserve, and holding whoever is at fault responsible.
