Chapter 4 covers everything about getting from one place to another within a building or site. Walking surfaces, doors, ramps, curb ramps, elevators, platform lifts, and stairways — these are the elements that make up an accessible route. This is one of the most commonly cited chapters in ADA compliance reviews because if the route isn't accessible, nothing else matters.
Reading level📄 Plain language + legal text
CurrentlyStandard
An accessible route is a continuous, unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements within a site or building. It must be at least 36 inches wide (narrowing to 32 inches at a point for up to 24 inches in length). The route includes walking surfaces, ramps, curb ramps, elevators, and platform lifts.
Walking surfaces along accessible routes must meet these requirements:
Width: 36 inches minimum clear width
Running slope: No steeper than 1:20 (5%). Anything steeper is a ramp.
Cross slope: No steeper than 1:48 (about 2%)
Surface: Stable, firm, and slip-resistant
Example: A sidewalk to a building entrance can have a gentle slope (1:20) but not a steep hill. If it's steeper than 1:20, it must have ramp features (handrails, landings).
Width & Slope
Units:
Key numbers — Width & Slope
36″Minimum clear width of any walking surface
1:20Maximum running slope (5%) before it becomes a ramp
1:48Maximum cross slope (about 2%) to prevent wheelchair drift
Surface & Level Changes
Key numbers — Surface & Level Changes
3 rulesFirm, stable, and slip-resistant — every walking surface
≤ ¼″Small level changes OK as vertical edges
¼″–½″Must be beveled (angled at 1:2 max slope)
> ½″Needs a full ramp with handrails and landings
This is one of the most detailed sections. Key requirements:
Clear width: 32 inches minimum when the door is open 90°
Maneuvering clearance: Enough space on both sides of the door for a wheelchair user to approach and open it
Threshold: ½ inch maximum height (¾ inch for sliding doors)
Hardware: Operable with one hand, no grasping/twisting — lever or push/pull handles
Opening force: Interior doors maximum 5 lbs (fire doors may be higher per code)
Closing speed: From 90° to 12° in 5 seconds minimum
Opening & Clearance
Units:
Key numbers — Opening & Clearance
32″Minimum clear width when door is open 90°
≤ 5 lbsMaximum force to open an interior door
5 secMinimum time for door closer to swing from 90° to 12°
Hardware & Thresholds
Key numbers — Hardware & Thresholds
34″–48″Height range for door handles and locks
LeverLever and push/pull handles pass; round knobs fail
≤ ½″Maximum threshold height (¾″ for sliding doors)
10″Bottom of push side must be smooth for wheelchair footrests
When a route has a slope steeper than 1:20, it's a ramp and must comply:
Slope: Not steeper than 1:12 (for every 1 inch of rise, 12 inches of ramp). A 30-inch rise needs a 30-foot ramp.
Width: 36 inches minimum clear between handrails
Rise: Maximum 30 inches of rise per ramp run, then a landing is required
Landings: At least 60 inches long at the top, bottom, and where the ramp changes direction
Handrails: Required on both sides of ramp runs with more than 6 inches of rise
Edge protection: Curbs, walls, or rails to prevent wheelchairs from rolling off
Slope & Landings
Units:
Key numbers — Slope & Landings
1:12Maximum ramp slope (1 inch rise per 12 inches of ramp)
30″Maximum rise per ramp run before a landing is required
60″Minimum landing length at top, bottom, and direction changes
36″Minimum clear width between handrails
Handrails & Edge Protection
Key numbers — Handrails & Edge Protection
34″–38″Handrail height above ramp surface
12″Extension beyond top and bottom of ramp run
4″Minimum curb height for edge protection
Curb ramps allow wheelchair users, stroller users, and others to transition between a sidewalk and street. Requirements:
Slope: Not steeper than 1:12
Width: 36 inches minimum
Flared sides: If the curb ramp is next to a walkway, sides must be flared at 1:10 maximum slope so pedestrians don't trip
Detectable warnings: Raised bumps (truncated domes) at the bottom where the ramp meets the street — they alert people who are blind that they're entering a roadway
The Ramp Itself
Units:
Key numbers — The Ramp
1:12Maximum running slope
36″Minimum width of the ramp itself
1:10Maximum slope of flared sides
1:20Maximum counter slope where ramp meets street
Warning Bumps & Crosswalk Alignment
Key numbers — Warnings & Crosswalks
24″Minimum depth of truncated dome surface in direction of travel
Full widthDomes must extend the full width of the curb ramp
1 perEach crosswalk gets its own curb ramp — no shared diagonal ramps
Both standard elevators and LULA (Limited Use/Limited Application) elevators have requirements:
Call buttons: 42 inches max above floor, with visual indicators
Hall signals: Audible and visible signals indicating car arrival and direction
Cab size: At least 51 inches deep × 68 inches wide (for standard), or 54 × 36 inches minimum for LULA
Controls: Within reach range, with Braille and raised characters
Door timing: Doors must remain open long enough for a person using a wheelchair to enter
Inside the Cab
Units:
Key numbers — Inside the Cab
51″×68″Minimum cab size (center-opening door)
36″Minimum door width (center-opening)
15″–48″Control button height range
Buttons & Signals Outside
Key numbers — Buttons & Signals
42″Maximum height for hall call buttons
See + HearArrival signals must be both visible and audible
1 / 2One chime for up, two chimes for down
LULA Elevator
Units:
Key numbers — LULA Elevator
54″×36″Minimum cab size (end-opening door)
32″Minimum door width
25 ftMaximum travel distance
Platform lifts can be used as an alternative to ramps or elevators in certain situations — existing buildings, areas with limited space, performance stages, and speaker platforms. Key requirements include a clear floor space of 30 × 48 inches on the platform.
Stairways on accessible routes (between floors served by elevators) need handrails on both sides extending 12 inches beyond the top and bottom risers.
How a Platform Lift Works
Units:
Key numbers — Platform Lifts
36″×48″Minimum clear floor space on the platform
32″Minimum clear door width
¾″Maximum gap between platform edge and landing (¾ inch)
Self-opMust be operable by the user — no attendant required
Where Lifts Are Allowed
Quick check — Is this lift compliant?
PassCan you call and operate it yourself, without a key or attendant?
FailDoes it need a staff member to run, or is it always broken?
Need to talk through this?
If this chapter relates to something you ran into and you want to know whether it counts as an ADA violation, describe what happened and I'll tell you what I think.
