Entrance Ramps

A ramp at a house is governed by Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code, not by the barrier-free rules written for public buildings. Part 9 limits an exterior ramp to a slope of 1 in 10, a width of at least 860 mm for a ramp serving one home, and a landing at the top and bottom of any ramp steeper than 1 in 50. Where a ramp is steeper than 1 in 12, the rise between landings can be no more than 1 500 mm.

The 1 in 12 slope you may have heard of comes from Section 3.8, the barrier-free standard. Section 3.8 does not apply to detached, semi-detached or row houses, so for your house 1 in 12 is a reference, not a requirement.

Handrails are not required on a ramp serving one home that rises 400 mm or less; where they are required they sit 865 to 1 070 mm high. A guard is needed where the drop beside the ramp is more than 600 mm.

Both of Ottawa's zoning by-laws set no projection limit for wheelchair ramps, on your own lot. Ramps are not on either of the City's permit lists, and a deck at the main entrance does need a permit, so ask Building Code Services how your ramp and landing will be treated.

Ontario Renovates lists ramps as an eligible modification, and the March of Dimes program funds modular ramps but not concrete ones. Each program decides who is eligible. Published guides put a short modular ramp at roughly $2,000 to $4,000; long or custom ramps cost more.