ADA Exterior Access Checklist: Ramps, Stairs, Handrails

Under the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, a commercial building needs at least one accessible route from each site arrival point (accessible parking, passenger loading zones, public sidewalks and transit stops) to an accessible entrance. That route must be at least 36 inches wide, with a running slope no steeper than 1:20 and a cross slope no steeper than 1:48. Any change in level over 1/2 inch must be ramped at 1:12 or less, with handrails on both sides once a ramp rises more than 6 inches. Exterior stairs that are part of a means of egress need uniform 4 to 7 inch risers, 11 inch minimum treads, and handrails 34 to 38 inches high on both sides.

This guide covers the exterior accessible route only: getting a person from the parking lot or sidewalk through the front door. It does not cover parking space counts, restrooms or interior signage. Your state or city may have adopted a different code edition or added amendments. Where the ADA, the IBC and your local code differ, design to the stricter requirement.

Quick reference: ADA exterior requirements at a glance

Which commercial buildings have to comply with the ADA?

Title III of the ADA covers two kinds of private buildings, and they carry different obligations.

Public accommodations vs. commercial facilities

Public accommodations are private businesses that serve the public: retail stores, restaurants, hotels, medical offices, banks, gyms, private schools and similar uses. Commercial facilities are nonresidential buildings that don't serve the public directly, such as warehouses, factories and office buildings without public-serving tenants.

The difference matters for existing buildings. DOJ has said that commercial facilities like office buildings are not subject to readily achievable barrier removal, but they are subject to the same new construction and alterations requirements as public accommodations.

New construction, alterations and existing buildings

The new construction requirements apply to facilities first occupied after January 26, 1993. For alterations, a path of travel is considered disproportionate when its cost exceeds 20% of the cost of the alteration to the primary function area. The path of travel explicitly includes exterior sidewalks, parking areas, curb ramps and exterior ramps, so exterior work is often the first place that 20% goes.

What about municipal buildings and public schools?

State and local governments, including municipalities and public school districts, are covered by Title II of the ADA (28 CFR Part 35) rather than Title III. Title II also uses the 2010 Standards for new construction and alterations, but its rules for existing facilities are framed as "program access" rather than readily achievable barrier removal. The technical requirements for routes, ramps, stairs and handrails in this guide apply to both.

What does "readily achievable" barrier removal mean for an existing building?

In plain terms, a public accommodation has to fix physical barriers when the fix is easy to do and doesn't cost much relative to the business's resources. The regulation defines readily achievable as easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense, and lists installing ramps, making curb cuts and widening doors among its examples.

A few points that most guides leave out:

• It is decided case by case. The ADA National Network notes that the nature and cost of the fix are weighed against the business's situation, and that technical feasibility also counts.
• It never ends. DOJ treats barrier removal as a continuing obligation: a fix that isn't readily achievable today may become so later as circumstances change, and DOJ recommends a written implementation plan as evidence of good faith.
• There is a safe harbor, not a grandfather clause. Elements that comply with the 1991 Standards and haven't been altered since March 15, 2012 don't need to be upgraded to the 2010 Standards. Elements that never met the 1991 Standards get no protection.
• Partial fixes are allowed when full compliance isn't readily achievable. The regulation permits measures such as a ramp with a steeper slope than the alterations standard, as long as the measure doesn't create a significant safety risk.
• Portable ramps are a last resort. They should be used only when a permanent ramp isn't readily achievable, and must account for nonslip surfaces, railings, anchoring and material strength.
• If you truly can't remove the barrier, you still have to offer access another way. The ADA National Network gives the example of a restaurant with entrance steps and no possible accessible entry, where alternatives like home delivery may be needed.

Federal tax incentives can offset the cost. Small businesses with 30 or fewer employees or $1 million or less in revenue can use the Disabled Access Credit (IRC Section 44), and businesses of any size can deduct up to $15,000 per year for barrier removal under IRC Section 190. The credit equals 50% of eligible expenditures above the first $250, up to $10,250 in spending, for a maximum credit of $5,000. Neither incentive applies to new construction. Confirm eligibility with your tax advisor.

ADA accessible route requirements: width, slope, surface and changes in level

Where an accessible route is required

At least one accessible route must run from each site arrival point (accessible parking and loading zones, public streets and sidewalks, and public transportation stops) to the accessible entrances they serve. The route must coincide with, or be in the same area as, general circulation paths (206.3). A ramp hidden around the back of the building doesn't meet the intent if everyone else walks up the front.

Width and passing space

The route must be 36 inches clear minimum. It can narrow to 32 inches at points such as doorways for no more than 24 inches of length, and handrails and protruding objects cannot reduce the minimum clearance. Passing spaces of 60 x 60 inches, or a T-shaped space, are required at intervals of 200 feet maximum (403.5.3) on routes narrower than 60 inches.

Running slope and cross slope

Walking surfaces on the route can't exceed a 1:20 (5%) running slope. Anything steeper must be built as a ramp. Cross slope is limited to 1:48 everywhere on the route (403.3). Sidewalk sections that have heaved, settled or been patched often fail cross slope before anything else.

Surface

Surfaces must be firm, stable and slip resistant (302.1). Openings such as grates and deck gaps must not let a 1/2 inch sphere pass (302.3).

Changes in level

The common field failures are a lifted sidewalk joint, a door threshold sitting on top of a concrete stoop, or a single step at the entry.

ADA entrance requirements (high level)

• How many entrances. In new construction, at least 60% of public entrances must be accessible, plus entrances serving tenancies, parking structures and pedestrian tunnels or elevated walkways. Employee entrances that use keys or card readers usually count as public entrances.
• Signage. If not all entrances are accessible, accessible ones carry the International Symbol of Accessibility, and each inaccessible public entrance needs a directional sign to the nearest accessible entrance (216.6).
• Doors. The minimum clear width is 32 inches with the door open 90 degrees (404.2.3). Thresholds are limited to 1/2 inch in new construction, with up to 3/4 inch permitted for existing or altered thresholds that are beveled on each side. Hardware must sit 34 to 48 inches above the ground and work with one hand, without tight grasping or twisting (404.2.7).
• Opening force. The ADA Standards set no maximum opening force for exterior hinged doors, and the Access Board recommends automating entrance doors where opening force is significant. Your local code may set a limit.
• Landings and bollards. Door maneuvering clearance can overlap a ramp's top landing (405.7.5). Security bollards cannot obstruct the accessible route (206.8).

ADA exterior stair requirements: treads, risers, nosings and handrails

Which exterior stairs must comply

The ADA Standards apply to interior and exterior stairs that are part of a required means of egress, including stairs with a single riser. That includes exterior stairs in the exit discharge, meaning the path from an exit door to a public way. In alterations, stairs between levels that are also connected by an accessible route don't have to meet 504, but compliant handrails are required when those egress stairs are altered (210.1, Exception 2).

Treads and risers (504.2, 504.3)

All risers in a flight must be uniform and between 4 and 7 inches. All treads must be uniform and at least 11 inches deep. Open risers are not allowed. Perforated risers are acceptable if the openings won't pass a 1/2 inch sphere.

Tread surface and drainage (504.4, 504.7)

Treads must meet the 302 surface rules, with no change in level other than a slope up to 1:48 for drainage. Exterior treads and landings must be designed so water doesn't pool.

Nosings (504.5)

The leading edge radius is limited to 1/2 inch, risers may slope back under the tread up to 30 degrees from vertical, and nosings may project no more than 1-1/2 inches with a curved or beveled underside. The IBC is tighter here (see the comparison table below). The Access Board also recommends a contrasting stripe about 2 inches wide on the top and bottom step nosings for people with low vision, though it isn't required.

Handrails (504.6)

Handrails are required on both sides of the stair and must meet 505 (covered below).

ADA ramp requirements: slope, rise, landings, width and edge protection

Maximum slope: 1:12

Running slope is capped at 1:12 (8.33%), meaning 1 inch of rise for every 12 inches of run (405.2). Cross slope is capped at 1:48 (405.3). To leave room for construction tolerances, the Access Board recommends specifying exterior ramps at 7.5% running slope and 1.5% cross slope. A ramp designed at exactly 1:12 can fail inspection after the concrete or decking goes in.

Where space is limited in existing buildings, steeper slopes are allowed for short rises: up to 1:10 for a 6 inch maximum rise, or up to 1:8 for a 3 inch maximum rise.

Maximum rise per run: 30 inches

Each run can rise no more than 30 inches before a landing (405.6). At 1:12, that's 30 feet of horizontal ramp per run. There is no limit on the number of runs, but long multi-run ramps are hard on manual wheelchair users. Sizing example: a 21 inch rise at 1:12 needs 252 inches (21 feet) of ramp, plus a landing at the top and bottom.

Width

Ramp runs need 36 inches of clear width measured between handrails, and egress codes may require more. Under the IBC, a means-of-egress ramp generally can't be narrower than the required corridor width, which is often 44 inches (IBC 2021 1012.5.1).

Landings

• Level (1:48 max) landings are required at the top and bottom of every run (405.7.1).
• Landings must be at least as wide as the widest run they serve and 60 inches long minimum (405.7.2, 405.7.3).
• Where a ramp changes direction, the landing must be at least 60 x 60 inches clear, and handrails, edge protection and posts can't encroach on that space.
• Landings exposed to weather must be designed to prevent water from accumulating (405.10).
• ICC A117.1-2017 may require a longer bottom landing than the ADA; some jurisdictions cite 72 inches.

Handrails on ramps

Handrails are required on both sides of any ramp with a rise greater than 6 inches.

Edge protection (405.9)

Edge protection can be a curb at least 4 inches high, a rail or barrier that blocks a 4 inch sphere, or a ramp and landing surface that extends at least 12 inches past the inside face of the handrail. It isn't required on ramps 6 inches or less in rise that have side flares, on landing sides that serve an adjoining run or stair, or where any drop-off within 10 inches of the minimum landing area is no more than 1/2 inch.

Guards are an IBC requirement, not an ADA one

The ADA Standards don't require guards. The IBC does. Where a ramp or landing is more than 30 inches above the grade below (measured within 36 inches horizontally of the open side), the IBC requires a 42 inch guard with openings that won't pass a 4 inch sphere (IBC 2021 1015.2, 1015.3, 1015.4). ICC's own accessibility guidance notes that guards at elevated walking surfaces aren't covered by the accessibility provisions and are required by IBC Section 1015. Handrails may be mounted to guards as long as every handrail requirement is still met.

Permanent vs. portable

Required ramps must be permanent and installed at the time of construction or alteration; only ramps serving temporary structures can be temporary or portable.

See our modular ADA ramp systems and our breakdown of how ADA wants ramps built for layout examples.

ADA handrail requirements: height, extensions, both sides and clearance

Handrails are required at ramps rising more than 6 inches and at egress stairs. Where handrails are provided anywhere else on an accessible route, they must still comply with 505 (403.6).

Height (505.4)

The top of the gripping surface must be 34 to 38 inches above the ramp surface or stair nosings, and the height must stay consistent along the run.

Both sides and continuity (505.2, 505.3)

Handrails go on both sides of ramps and stairs and must be continuous for the full length of each run or flight. On switchback and dogleg layouts, the inside rail must be continuous between runs.

Clearance and gripping surface (505.5, 505.6)

Keep at least 1-1/2 inches between the rail and the wall or any adjacent surface. The top and sides of the gripping surface must be unobstructed, and the bottom can be obstructed for no more than 20% of the length. Skateboard deterrent collars or guards on the gripping surface are not allowed at egress stairs. That catches a lot of retrofits.

Size and shape (505.7, 505.8)

Circular rails must be 1-1/4 to 2 inches in outside diameter. Non-circular rails need a 4 to 6-1/4 inch perimeter and a 2-1/4 inch maximum cross-section dimension. Surfaces must be free of sharp or abrasive elements, with rounded edges.

Fittings (505.9)

Handrails must not rotate within their fittings. This matters for any fitting-based railing system, so confirm the rail is mechanically locked in every fitting.

Extensions (505.10)

• Ramps: 12 inches minimum horizontally beyond the top and bottom of each run.
• Stair tops: 12 inches minimum horizontally, starting directly above the first riser nosing.
• Stair bottoms: continue at the stair slope for at least one tread depth past the last riser nosing.
• Returns: Extensions must return to a wall, guard or the floor, and the length is measured to the start of the return radius.
• Protruding objects: Horizontal extensions that return to a post can project any distance if their leading edge is no higher than 27 inches; above that, they can't protrude more than 12 inches from the post.
• Alterations: In alterations, extensions may be shortened or turned where a full extension would project hazardously into a circulation path.

A standard 1-1/2 inch nominal steel pipe has a 1.90 inch outside diameter, which falls inside the 1-1/4 to 2 inch range. See our ADA handrail kits and the ADA handrail installation guide for configurations that include the required extensions and returns.

ADA vs. IBC vs. IRC: how the codes compare for ramps, stairs and handrails

The ADA is a federal civil rights law. The IBC is the building code your local building department enforces. They overlap, but they're not identical, and passing a permit inspection doesn't by itself establish ADA compliance. For stairs, ICC notes that IBC Sections 1011 and 1014 govern stairways and their handrails, rather than A117.1 Section 504. The IRC covers one- and two-family homes and is shown only for comparison.

The practical takeaway: on a commercial exterior stair, build nosings to the IBC's 1-1/4 inch limit, rails to the shared 34 to 38 inch band, and add 42 inch guards wherever the drop exceeds 30 inches. That one design satisfies both codes.

Printable ADA exterior access checklist for commercial buildings

Property: ______________ Date: ________ Surveyed by: ______________
Tools: 24 in or 48 in digital level, tape measure, door pressure gauge, 4 in diameter ball or template, camera

A. Site arrival and accessible route

B. Entrance

C. Exterior stairs (egress)

D. Ramps

E. Handrails

F. Guards and local code

Notes and photo log: ______________________________________

How to prioritize ADA fixes when budget is limited

For existing public accommodations, DOJ sets a recommended order in 28 CFR 36.304(c):

1. Access from public sidewalks, parking and public transportation into the building. The regulation's examples are installing an entrance ramp, widening entrances and providing accessible parking.
2. Access to areas where goods and services are provided.
3. Access to restrooms.
4. Any other measures.

The exterior route is priority one. The ADA National Network calls it "getting through the door": making sure people with disabilities can physically enter the facility as independently as possible.

If you're altering a primary function area and the path of travel would exceed the 20% cap, a similar order applies. The regulation gives priority to an accessible entrance first, then an accessible route to the altered area, then restrooms, telephones, drinking fountains and other elements such as parking.

Within the exterior route, triage like this:

1. No route at all. A stepped entrance with no ramp blocks entry completely.
2. Changes in level over 1/2 inch on the route, including a single step or raised threshold.
3. Ramps steeper than allowed or missing landings.
4. Missing handrails on ramps over 6 inches of rise and on egress stairs. These are safety issues for everyone and usually don't require demolition to fix.
5. Noncompliant handrails: wrong height, missing extensions, wrong diameter, rails that rotate.
6. Edge protection, cross slope, surface cracks and drainage.

Write it down. A dated survey, a cost estimate and a schedule show good faith and keep the plan moving year to year.

Why facility teams use modular railing and ramp systems for exterior fixes

Most exterior ADA fixes are the same few items: a ramp, a set of handrails, a guard at a drop-off. Simplified Building's modular systems are built for that work:

• No welding. Components assemble with standard tools.
• No fabrication shop delays. There's no measure, fabricate, return and install cycle with a metal shop.
• Adjustable on site. Fittings accommodate field conditions like uneven stoops and existing slopes.
• Ships ready to assemble. Kits arrive cut and labeled for your layout.
• Design help before you order. Our specialists review your measurements against ADA and local code before anything ships.

Frequently asked questions

What are the ADA requirements for a commercial building entrance?

New construction must make at least 60% of public entrances accessible, each connected by an accessible route from site arrival points. Accessible entrance doors need a 32 inch clear opening, a threshold of 1/2 inch or less, and hardware usable with one hand. Inaccessible entrances need signs directing people to the accessible one.

Does an existing commercial building have to be ADA compliant?

If it's a public accommodation, it must remove barriers where readily achievable, even with no construction planned. A commercial facility that doesn't serve the public, like a warehouse, has no barrier removal duty until it's built or altered. Either way, any alteration must comply with the 2010 Standards.

What is the maximum slope for an ADA ramp?

The maximum running slope is 1:12, or 1 inch of rise per 12 inches of run (8.33%), with a cross slope of 1:48 or less. Existing buildings with space limits can use up to 1:10 for a 6 inch rise or 1:8 for a 3 inch rise. The Access Board recommends designing exterior ramps at 7.5% to allow for construction tolerance.

How long can an ADA ramp be before it needs a landing?

Each run can rise a maximum of 30 inches, which at 1:12 is 30 feet of horizontal run. A level landing at least 60 inches long is required at the top and bottom of each run. There's no limit on the number of runs.

Do ADA ramps need handrails on both sides?

Yes, any ramp run with a rise greater than 6 inches needs handrails on both sides. The rails must be 34 to 38 inches high, continuous, and extend 12 inches past the top and bottom of each run. Ramps rising 6 inches or less don't require handrails.

What height does an ADA handrail have to be?

The top of the gripping surface must be 34 to 38 inches above the ramp surface or stair nosings, kept at a consistent height. The IBC uses the same range. Round rails must be 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter with 1-1/2 inches of clearance.

Do exterior stairs have to meet ADA requirements?

Exterior stairs that are part of a required means of egress must comply, including stairs from an exit door to the public way, even with one riser. Stairs that aren't part of a required means of egress don't have to comply. In alterations, stairs paired with an accessible route are exempt except for handrails when the stairs are altered.

Are portable ramps ADA compliant?

Portable ramps are allowed only for readily achievable barrier removal when a permanent ramp isn't readily achievable. They must address nonslip surfaces, railings, anchoring and strength. Ramps required in new construction or alterations must be permanent.

Is there a grandfather clause for ADA compliance?

No, but there is a safe harbor. Elements that comply with the 1991 ADA Standards and haven't been altered since March 15, 2012 don't need to be upgraded to the 2010 Standards. Elements that never met the 1991 Standards still have to be fixed where readily achievable.

Get your exterior route fixed

OSHA governs workplace fall protection and is a separate topic not covered here. This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your local building official and legal counsel.