Permitting

Construction Specifications

Planning/Zoning

Licensing

Flood Zone Information

Accessibility

Septic Tanks

Diagrams

Building / Planning Fees

Tables

Forms

Home

• When Required / Exempt
• Ramps
• Bathrooms
• Doors
• Parking
• Handrails / Grab Bars

 GENERAL: All new or altered buildings and facilities, which may be frequented in, lived in, or worked in by the public must be handicap accessible.

RESIDENTIAL: All new single-family houses, duplexes, triplexes, condominiums, and townhouses shall provide at least bathroom, located with maximum possible privacy, where bathrooms are provided on habitable grade levels, with a door that has a 29-inch clear opening.

CHURCHES: Churches are exempt from the Florida Accessibility Code (this does not apply to public classrooms, day care centers, and etc. located on the Church grounds).

 RAMPS

SLOPE: The maximum slope for a handicap ramp is 1-inch rise per 12 inches of run (1:12).  For example, an 8-inch step would require a ramp 8 feet in length.

RISE: The maximum rise for a single run is 30 inches (30 foot ramp).  After 30 feet a landing is required.

WIDTH: The minimum width for a ramp is 36 inches.  Ramps used as a means of egress must be 44 inches wide.

LANDINGS: Landings must be at least as wide as the ramp that leads to them.  Landings on ramps must be at least 60 inches clear, and the bottom of each ramp shall have at least 72 inches of straight and level clearance.  If ramps change direction at landings, the minimum landing size is 60 inches by 60 inches.

HANDRAILS: Handrails are required on both sides of ramps that exceed 6-inches rise.  The top of the handrail must be mounted between 34-38 inches above the ramp surface.

 BATHROOMS

CLEAR SPACE: Accessible bathrooms a clear floor space provided for each fixture, as well as a 60-inch diameter turning space within the bathroom.

MINIMUM SIZE: Our calculations have revealed that the minimum size required for an accessible bathroom with a lavatory and water closet is as follows:

WATER CLOSET: Height must be between 17-19 inches.  A minimum distance of 18 inches is required from a wall to the center of the water closet.

LAVATORY: Lavatories must extend 17-19 inches from the wall.  The top of the lavatory cannot exceed 34 inches above the finished floor, and allow a minimum of 29 inches clearance to the bottom of the apron.

 DOORS

 GENERAL: A minimum clear opening width of 32 inches with the door open 90 degrees, measured from the face of the door.

RESIDENTIAL: When required for residential dwellings, accessible doors must provide a clear opening of 29 inches.

THRESHOLDS: Shall not exceed ¾ inch for sliding doors, and ½ inch for other door types.

OPENING FORCE: Exterior hinged doors shall be so designed that such doors can be pushed or pulled open with a force not exceeding 8.5 pounds Interior doors 5 pounds

 PARKING

SIZE: Each parking space must be no less than 12 feet wide

ACCESS AISLES: Access aisles between handicap spaces must no less than 5 feet wide.

MARKING: Each parking space must be outlined with blue paint.

SIGNS: Each space must be posted by an above ground sign.

DIAMETER: The diameter or width of a handrail or grab-bar shall be 1-1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch.

SPACE FROM WALL: The space between the grab-bar and the wall shall be 1-1/2.

WATER CLOSET: Grab-bars for water closets in a toilet room must be located between 33-36 inches above the floor.  A 36-inch grab-bar in required at the rear of the water closet and a 42-inch grab-bar is required at the side of the water closet.

STALLS: Water closets in stalls require a 42-inch grab-bar on each side mounted between 33-36 inches above the floor.