The following standards shall be applied to all required accessible residential dwellings subject to this chapter.
A. Accessible Primary Entrance.
1. Requirements. An accessible residential dwelling shall provide at least one (1) accessible entrance that complies with the following requirements in this subsection.
a. An exterior accessible route that can be negotiated by a person using a wheelchair shall be provided that connects the primary accessible entrance of the dwelling unit to the garage, or driveway such that the accessible residential dwelling can be entered. The exterior accessible route shall not be less than forty (40) inches wide. The maximum slope of the exterior accessible route shall not exceed one (1) unit vertical in twenty (20) units horizontal. Handrails consistent with the "ramp provisions" contained in the California Building Code, Chapter 10, and wheel guides consistent with CBC Chapter 11A, are required on exterior accessible routes with a slope greater than one (1) unit vertical in twenty (20) units horizontal. When the driveway or parking area is part of the accessible route of travel, the cross-slope of the accessible route shall not exceed one-quarter (1/4) inch per foot.
b. The accessible entrance shall be the primary entrance. When site constraints or design elements prevent the primary entrance from being accessible, the building official may approve an alternate location for the accessible entrance at the front, side, or back of the accessible residential dwelling or through its garage or carport.
c. The accessible entrance door must have a minimum net clear opening of thirty-two (32) inches, measured between the face of the door, and the stop, when the door is in the ninety (90)-degree open position.
d. The outside landing shall be no more that one-half (1/2) inch below the floor level of the interior. The floor or landing on the interior side of the accessible entrance door shall not be more than one-half (1/2) inch lower than the top of the threshold of the doorway, except at sliding doors where it may be three-fourth (3/4) inches with a height greater than one-quarter (1/4) inch shall be beveled with a slope not to exceed one (1) unit vertical by two (2) units horizontal.
B. Accessible Interior Routes.
1. Requirements. An accessible residential dwelling shall provide accessible interior routes that comply with the following requirements in this subsection:
a. At least one (1) accessible route through the hallways and passageways shall be provided from the accessible entrance of the dwelling unit to the primary floor bathroom, bedroom, and the kitchen. The accessible route must provide a minimum width of forty (40) inches and be level with ramped or beveled changes at door thresholds.
b. Any doors used for user passage in a hallway along an accessible route, including but not limited to those for the bathroom, bedroom, and the kitchen, shall meet the requirements of subsection F. below.
C. Adaptable Bathroom Entry and Facilities.
1. Requirements. An accessible residential dwelling shall provide accessible bathroom entry and adaptable facilities that comply with the following requirements in this subsection:
a. At least one (1) bathroom, consisting of at least a toilet, lavatory, and roll-in shower stall meeting the requirements of CBC Chapter 11A, shall be provided on the primary floor of an accessible residential dwelling. The bathroom shall be provided with sufficient maneuvering space as prescribed by this paragraph for a person using a wheelchair or other mobility aid to enter and close the door, use the fixtures, reopen the door, and exit. Its size, design, and facilities shall be consistent with standards in this paragraph.
b. A clear space measuring at least forty-eight (48) inches by sixty (60) inches inside the bathroom and outside the swing of the door shall be provided. This space may include maneuverable space under fixtures where adequate knee and toe space is provided. In addition, there shall be a clear space of at least thirty-six (36) inches clear depth by forty-eight (48) inches clear width in front of or adjacent to the toilet and at least thirty-six (36) inches clear depth by forty-eight (48) inches clear width in front or adjacent to the lavatory or sink. Maneuverable space under a lavatory or sink may be accomplished by either use of a pedestal or wall-mounted sink or with under-sink cabinets designed to be readily removed.
c. Grab bar reinforcement shall be provided in a manner consistent with CBC Chapter 11A or as follows:
(1) Where the toilet is placed adjacent to a sidewall, grab bar reinforcement shall be installed on both sides or one (1) side and the rear. Reinforcement shall be installed between thirty-two (32) inches and thirty-eight (38) inches above the floor. The reinforcement shall be a minimum of six (6) inches nominal in height. Where reinforcement is installed at the rear wall, it shall be a minimum of forty-four (44) inches in length. Reinforcement installed at the side of the toilet shall be installed a maximum of twelve (12) inches from the rear wall and shall extend a minimum of twenty-six (26) inches in front of the toilet
(2) Where the toilet is not placed adjacent to a sidewall, provisions for installation of floor-mounted, foldaway, or similar alternative grab bars shall be provided or installed.
(3) Wall or floor grab bar reinforcement shall be capable of supporting a load of at least two hundred and fifty (250) pounds.
(4) Grab bars, if installed, shall meet the requirements of CBC Chapter 11A.
d. All faucets and handles shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist and shall be consistent with the requirements of CBC Chapter 11A.
e. Lavatory or sink fixtures shall be consistent with CBC Chapter 11A.
f. The water closet (toilet) fixture shall be consistent with CBC Chapter 11A.
D. Adaptable Kitchen and Facilities.
1. Requirements. An accessible residential dwelling shall provide accessible kitchen and adaptable facilities that comply with the following requirements in this subsection.
a. The kitchen shall be on an accessible route and shall have a pathway at least forty (40) inches wide [or thirty-six (36) inches clear of any obstacles] through the kitchen to the stove or oven, and in a U-shaped kitchen, shall have at least a forty-eight (48) inch by sixty (60) inch clear space in front of stove at the end of a U-shaped kitchen; at least a thirty (30) inch by forty-eight (48) inch clear space in front of the sink (counting open access underneath, if available); and at least one eighteen (18) inch wide breadboard and/or eighteen (18) inches in counter space at a thirty-four (34) inch height, or combination thereof.
b. Sink controls shall be consistent with CBC Chapter 11A.
E. Bedroom.
1. Requirements. An accessible residential dwelling provided with an accessible level and space to be converted to a bedroom complying with provisions for emergency escape and rescue, and smoke alarms in the California Building Code shall comply with the requirements of subsection F. below, and any closet in that bedroom must have a thirty-two (32) inch net doorway opening.
a. If one (1) or more bedrooms are on accessible route, at least one (1) must comply with the general rules in subsection F. below and any closet in that bedroom must have a thirty-two (32) inch net doorway opening.
F. General Components.
1. Requirements. An accessible residential dwelling shall provide general components that comply with the following requirements in this subsection.
a. On an accessible route in an interior room or hallway with a forty (40) inch width, interior doors or openings required to be accessible shall provide a minimum of thirty-two (32) inches clear width, measured between the face of the door and the stop, when the door is in the ninety (90)-degree open position.
b. Hand-activated hardware shall be operable with a single effort by lever-type hardware, panic bars, push-pull activating bars or other hardware designed to provide passage without requiring the ability to grasp the opening hardware on both sides of the door.
c. All receptacle outlets, lighting controls, and environmental controls on an accessible route and in accessible rooms shall comply with the following:
(1) Electrical receptacle outlets on branch circuits of thirty (30) amperes or less and communication system receptacles shall be located no more than forty-eight (48) inches measured from the top of the receptacle outlet box or receptacle housing nor less than fifteen (15) inches measured from the bottom of the receptacle outlet box or receptacle housing to the finished floor.
(2) Controls or switches intended to be used by the occupant of the room or area to control lighting and receptacle outlets, appliances, alarms, or cooling, heating and ventilating equipment, shall be located no more than forty-eight (48) inches measured from the top of the outlet box nor less than fifteen (15) inches measured from the bottom of the outlet box to the level of the finished floor. If the reach is over an obstruction (for example, a kitchen base cabinet) between twenty (20) inches and twenty-five (25) inches in depth, the maximum height is reduced to forty-four (44) inches for forward approach, or forty-six (46) inches for side approach, provided the obstruction is no more than twenty-four (24) inches in depth. Obstructions shall not extend more than twenty-five (25) inches from the wall beneath a control. These requirements do not apply to a hood fan in an accessible kitchen.
(3) "Rocker" switches and controls shall be installed in all rooms required to be accessible and on the accessible route.
NOTE: Controls that do not satisfy these specifications are acceptable provided that comparable controls or outlets, that perform the same functions, are provided within the same area and are accessible.
(Ord. 370 § 1 (part), 2006)