Texas wheelchair ramp requirements

Which rules apply in Texas

Two layers apply to accessible construction in Texas:

• the ADA, the federal civil rights law, with its 2010 Standards §405 for ramps; and
• the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS), the state's building accessibility rules under the Elimination of Architectural Barriers statute (Texas Government Code, Chapter 469), administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

The current TAS is the 2012 edition, effective March 15, 2012. It is built on the same section structure as the 2010 ADA Standards, so much so that TAS §405 is a line-by-line match with the federal ramp rule. Texas also requires that a project comply with TAS regardless of whether it must be registered: the $50,000 threshold below is about the state review process, not about whether the standards apply.

When TDLR registration applies

TDLR's own guidance is direct: projects with an estimated construction cost of$50,000 or more must be registered and must submit a full set of construction documents, following Administrative Rule 68.50. Projects under $50,000 are not required to be submitted for registration and review, but they are still required to comply with TAS.

The construction cost for this test is the total project cost, excluding items such as site acquisition and design fees. Special registrations exist for projects below the threshold or outside the standard scope, and late registration carries higher fees. Thresholds, fees and procedures are set by rule and can change, check TDLR's current guidance for your project.

What a Texas project needs

Texas does not send a state inspector for most projects. Instead, the owner registers the project and a licensed Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS)performs the plan review and inspection. The usual sequence is:

1. Register the project in TABS, TDLR's online Architectural Barriers system. The current project filing fee is $175 (see the TDLR fee schedule), and late filings cost more.
2. Hire a RAS. The RAS reviews the construction documents against TAS and issues a report of any deficiencies; plan review must happen before the inspection. RASs set their own fees, separate from the state filing fee.
3. Correct and inspect. After construction, the RAS inspects the facility and documents compliance. Many cities also ask for the TDLR project number as part of the local building permit process.

Source: TDLR, Elimination of Architectural Barriers, project registration, FAQ and fee schedule (tdlr.texas.gov/ab).

What TAS requires for ramps

For ramps, TAS §405 carries the same numbers as the 2010 ADA Standards. If you build to the federal rule, you are building to TAS:

• §405.2: running slope not steeper than 1:12; the existing-sites exception (steeper slopes with reduced rise) is retained in TAS Table 405.2;
• §405.3: cross slope not steeper than 1:48;
• §405.5: clear width 36 inches minimum, also between handrails;
• §405.6: maximum rise of 30 inches per ramp run;
• §405.7: landings at the top and bottom of every run, 60 inches minimum clear length, 60 × 60 inches where the ramp changes direction;
• §405.8: handrails when a run rises more than 6 inches, meeting §505 (34–38 inch height, 12-inch extensions);
• §405.9: edge protection on each side of runs and landings, by extended surface or a curb/barrier;
• §405.10: landings in wet conditions designed to prevent water accumulation.

Because the values match, a ramp plan produced by the ramp calculator is directly usable for TAS, but the design still has to pass RAS plan review and, where the local code adds anything, the city or county building department.

What is generally exempt

The Texas Architectural Barriers program targets public buildings and facilities, places of public accommodation and commercial facilities. Public or privately funded apartments, condominiums, townhomes and single-family dwellings used exclusively by residents and their guests are generally not registered with TDLR, though sales offices and public right-of-way elements in such developments can still fall in scope.

A private single-family home ramp is therefore a residential project governed by the Texas Residential Code and local amendments, not by TAS registration. Even then, the ADA ramp numbers are a sensible design target for safety and usability, and local permitting still applies. If your facility serves the public in any way, confirm scope with TDLR before assuming an exemption.

Using the calculator in Texas

Enter your rise in the ADA wheelchair ramp calculator to get the run length at 1:12, the number of runs and landings, the handrail requirement and a printable spec sheet with code references. Those are the same numbers TAS §405 requires.

For commercial projects, pair the plan with the TDLR steps above: register in TABS, engage a RAS early (their review can catch issues before construction), and keep the project number handy for the local permit. The wheelchair ramp cost guide covers per-foot ranges and funding options, and the main requirements guide explains each ADA section in plain English.

Sources: TDLR Elimination of Architectural Barriers program, FAQ and fee schedule; 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards §405 (Chapter 4 online); 2010 ADA Standards §405 (ada.gov).