Office on the Disabled

City Hall
1200 Market St.,Room 30 (basement level)
St. Louis, MO 63103

Phone: 314-622-3686
Fax: 314-622-4019
Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM M - F

TDD - Answering Machine
314-622-3692
TTY - 314-622-3693
Email Office on the Disabled

Accessibility Guidelines & Policies

DEFINITIONS:

ACCESSIBLE. Describes a site, building, facility or portion thereof that complies with Chapter 11 of this code and ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities, and that can be approached, entered and used by a person with a physical disability.

ACCESSIBLE ROUTE. A continuous unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces in a building or facility which can be negotiated by a person with a severe disability, using a wheelchair and which is also safe for and useable by people with other disabilities. Interior accessible routes include corridors, floors, ramps, elevators, lifts and clear floor space at fixtures. Exterior accessible routes include parking, access aisles, curb ramps, walks, ramps and lifts. Click here for detailed ramp specifications for accessible buildings.

Note: A permit must be acquired for ramps that encroach into the public right of way. Click here for encroachment permit requirements.

DWELLING UNIT OR SLEEPING UNIT, TYPE A. A dwelling unit or sleeping unit designed and constructed for accessibility in accordance with Section 1002 of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities. A Type A, accessible dwelling unit has all required knee and toe clearances, clear floor space requirements, door openings, turning radius, approaches, accessible routes, grab bars and accessible hardware. All bathrooms in a Type A (accessible) dwelling unit shall be designed as fully accessible. All kitchens in a Type A (accessible) dwelling unit shall be designed as fully accessible. Click here to view policy statement.

DWELLING UNIT OR SLEEPING UNIT, TYPE B. A dwelling unit or sleeping unit designed and constructed for accessibility in accordance with Section 1002 of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities and is intended to be consistent with technical requirements for fair housing required by Federal law. Dwelling units required to be Type B shall be permitted to be designed and constructed as Type A units. A Type B dwelling unit has all required knee and toe clearances, clear floor space requirements, door openings, turning radius, approaches, accessible routes. Blocking for grab bars in the bathroom is installed Kitchen cabinets can be installed under the sink. Grab bars and kitchen cabinets are removed for a person with a disability buying or renting the unit. In Type B (adaptable) dwelling units with two (2) or more bathrooms, only one (1) common use bathroom shall be designed as fully accessible.

TECHNICALLY INFEASIBLE. An alteration of a building or a facility that has little likelihood of being accomplished because the existing structural conditions require the removal or alteration of a load-bearing member that is an essential part of the structural frame, or because other existing physical or site constraints prohibit modification of addition of elements, spaces or features which are in full and strict compliance with the minimum requirements for new construction and which are necessary provide accessibility.

POLICIES

1103.1.1 Unknown Use Group. In cases where the previous Group is unknown or not documented, it shall be considered a Change of Use Group, and, as such, accessibility requirements shall be enforced.

1103.3 Waiver requirements. In order to request a waiver from the requirements of Chapter 11: Accessibility, a property owner or design professional shall submit a written request to the Commissioner on the Disabled, outlining the specific reasons for their request. The Commissioner on the Disabled shall consult with the Building Inspector, Plan Review Section or other Building Division staff about the property. A recommendation shall be made by the Commissioner on the Disabled to the Building Commissioner. The Commissioner on the Disabled and Building Commissioner shall agree to grant or deny the request for a waiver. The property owner or design professional is informed in writing of the decision by the Commissioner on the Disabled. This decision is not subject to appeal by the Board of Building Appeals. Permits for the renovated or altered building shall only be issued contingent upon compliance with the letter of agreement.

1103.4 Waiver criteria. A waiver of accessibility requirements may be granted if any or all of the following conditions exist:

1. It is technically infeasible to achieve accessibility. This term means that there is little likelihood that an alteration can be accomplished because the existing structural conditions require the removal of or alteration of a load-bearing member that is essential to the structural frame, or because of existing site constraints of physical constraints that prohibit achieving accessibility. This is determined by the Commissioner on the Disabled.

2. The type of business or work being performed at a property, i.e., physically demanding or requiring a high level of strength and physical mobility, cannot be reasonably performed by a person with a mobility impairment. This is determined by the Commissioner on the Disabled.

3. In an existing multi-floor building with two or more floors, where the functions on the second or other floors above grade are identical to all the functions on the first floor, vertical accessibility can be waived if the first floor is totally accessible. This is determined by the Commissioner on the Disabled.

4. In cases where the previous use group is unknown or un-documented and the new use group is similar to the previous group, a property owner or design professional shall submit a written request for a waiver of the accessibility requirements to the Commissioner on the Disabled, outlining the specific reasons for the request.

1104.1 Site arrival points. Accessible routes within the site shall be provided from public transportation stops, accessible parking and accessible passenger loading zones and public streets or sidewalks to the accessible building entrance served.

Exception: An accessible route shall not be required between site arrival points and the building or facility entrance if the only means of access between them is a vehicular way not providing for pedestrian access.

This exception shall be read together with Section 1107.4. The code requires an accessible pedestrian route from site arrival points to accessible building entrances, unless site impracticality applies.

1107.4 Accessible route. At least one accessible route shall connect accessible building or facility entrances with primary entrance of each Accessible unit, Type A unit and Type B unit within the building or facility and with those exterior and interior spaces that serve the units.

Exceptions:

1. If the slope of the finished ground level between accessible facilities and buildings exceeds one unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (1:12), or where physical barriers prevent the installation of an accessible route, a vehicular route with parking that complies with Section 1106 at each public or common use facility or building is permitted in place of the accessible route.

2. Exterior decks, patios or balconies that are part of Type B units and have impervious surfaces, and that are not more than 4 inches (102 mm) below the finished floor level of the adjacent interior space of the unit.

This exception is not applicable to site arrival points for any Type B dwelling units because site impracticality is addressed under Section 1107.7.

1109.2 Toilet and bathing facilities. Toilet rooms and bathing facilities shall be accessible. Where a floor level is not required to be connected by an accessible route, the only toilet rooms or bathing facilities provided within the facility shall not be located on the inaccessible floor. At least one type of fixture, element, control or dispenser in each accessible toilet room and bathing facility shall be accessible. There shall be no encroachment of doors and/or door swing into the required circular or T-shaped wheelchair turning spaces.

Exceptions:

1. In toilet rooms or bathing facilities accessed only through a private office, not for common or public use, and intended for use by a single occupant, any of the following alternatives are allowed:

1.1 Doors are permitted to swing into the clear floor space provided the door swing can be reversed to meet the requirements in ICC A117.1

1.2. The height requirements of the water closet in ICC A117.1 are not applicable,

1.3. Grab bars are not required to be installed in a toilet room, provided that reinforcement has been installed in the walls and located so as to permit the installation of such grab bars, and

1.4. The requirement for height, knee and toe clearance shall not apply to a lavatory.

2. This section is not applicable to toilet and bathing facilities that serve dwelling units or sleeping units that are not required to be accessible by Section 1107.

3. Where multiple single-user toilet rooms or bathing facilities are clustered at a single location and contain fixtures in excess of the minimum required number of plumbing fixtures, at least 5 percent, but not less than one room for each use at each cluster, shall be accessible.

4. Toilet room facilities that are in excess of those required by the City of Saint Louis Plumbing Code and that are designated for use by children in day care and primary school occupancies.

5. Where no more than one urinal is provided in a toilet room or bathing facility, the urinal is not required to be accessible.

6. Toilet rooms that are part of critical-care or intensive-care patient sleeping rooms are not required to be accessible.

1109.2.1.6 Clear floor space. Where doors swing into a unisex or bathing room, there shall be no encroachment of doors and/or door swing into the required circular or T-shaped wheelchair turning spaces.

 

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This Page Last Modified: 05/26/09