Wheelchair ramp

Started by RodneyJ2 • 7 replies • 2987 views

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RodneyJ2 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I am a member of an HOA board in a single family housing development. The HOA has as part of the covenant that member must request approval for all new or modified construction on their property through the architectural review board. The board was notified that a homeowner start building a ramp without approval. The board directed the owners to stop construction and submit a review with all requirements; they failed to conform with the request. What steps can the board take now to have the oversized and unsightly ramp modified?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Rodney,

Realistically, because it's a wheel chair ramp it's likely that the Board can do nothing but try and get paperwork after the fact. Wheel chair ramps indicate a disability and the FHA (which would be the governing authority here) requires reasonable accommodation for disabilities.

If desired, you can argue what is reasonable but it may require legal action and will most likely place the Board and the Association in a bad perspective from public opinion.

Another option is to identify whom the ramp is built for and track their progress so the Board can insist it be removed once the ramp is no longer needed.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Resources:

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT from HUD

HOA Accommodations for Disabled Residents from an attorney's site

HOAs and the Fair Housing Act

Discrimination: An Overview of the Federal Fair Housing Act and a Study of Discrimination Claims Filed Against Associations from an attorneys site

PitA
Posts: 1,416

Posted:

... the oversized and unsightly ramp modified?

If actually built properly to ADA specs it probably is NOT oversized.

30" of rise would require 30 FEET of ramp plus at LEAST one intermediate flat landing (more if direction change requires)

add ADA and code compliant hand rails and you have a LARGE structure

'most' ramps are actually constructed to permit a 'helper' to wheel the individual around, but, in your case, the ramp may have been built to allow 'self mobility'

IMO: making a compliant ramp 'pretty' would constitute an unreasonable burden

PitA
Posts: 1,416

Posted:

ADA Ramp Codes
RAMP CODES 4.8*
4.8.1 General
Any part of an accessible route with a slope greater than
1:20 shall be considered a ramp and shall comply with 4.8.
4.8.2 Slope and Rise
The least possible slope shall be used for any ramp. The
maximum slope of a ramp in new construction shall be 1:12.
The maximum rise for any ramp run shall be 30 inches. Curb
ramps and ramps to be constructed on existing sites or in
existing buildings or facilities may have slopes and rises, if
space limitations prohibit the use of a 1:12 slope or less.
4.8.3 Clear Width
The minimum clear width of a ramp shall be 36 inches.
4.8.4 Landings
Ramps shall have level landings at the bottom and top of
each run. Landings shall have the following features:
1. The landing shall be at least as wide as the widest ramp
run leading to it.
2. The landing length shall be a minimum of 60 inches clear.
3. If ramps change direction at landings, the minimum
landing size shall be 60 in. x 60 in.
4. If a doorway is located at a landing, then the area in
front of the door shall comply with 4.13.6.

MarkJ8 (Florida)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I found this to be a great resource on ADA Ramp Requirements:

https://expressramps.com/ada-ramp-slope-requirements

They also have a very easy to use ramp slope calculator:

https://expressramps.com/ramp-wizard

Hope that helps!

ThadC2 (Florida)
Posts: 820

Posted:

"oversized and unsightly ramp modified?"

please post a photo , I doubt it is either and the board is just over reacting.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By ThadC2 on 05/27/2022 3:47 PM
"oversized and unsightly ramp modified?"

please post a photo , I doubt it is either and the board is just over reacting.

This is an old thread, the OP only posted a single question.

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