Home Accessibility Check List

Outdoor Modifications

Garage

• The garage door opening height should have a minimum of 9’ open vertical clearance from the finished floor to accommodate raised-top, wheelchair-accessible vans.

Parking Spaces

• Handicapped parking spaces should be at least 12’ x 6’ wide and have at least 48” of clearance on one side for loading and unloading wheelchairs.

Walkways & Ramps

• The walkways between your front door and parking areas / garages should be 48” wide.

• All ramps should rise no more than 1” per foot.

• All ramps must be at least 36” wide for wheelchair accessibility.

• All ramps longer than 30’ must have a middle landing for resting and maneuvering wheelchairs.

• All ramps and porches must have secure handrails.

Doorbell & Mailbox

• The doorbell should be chair height, which is 48”.

• The doorbell should be loud enough to be heard throughout your home.

• Install LED flashing lights (in addition to doorbells) for the hearing impaired.

• The mailbox or mail slot should be chair height.

Front Door / Entrance Modifications

• The front door handle should be easy-to-grasp, single lever, and operable with one hand.

• The front door deadbolt should have a dual-function release mechanism.

• The front door must be at least 36” wide with 32” of clearance.

• The front door should have a full-length sidelight or double peephole for visibility.

• The front stoop should measure at least 5’ x 5’ (if applicable).

• Each exterior door should have a threshold that’s sloped and no higher than ½” from the bottom of the door.

​

Bedroom Modifications

Bedroom

• The bedroom door should be at least 32” wide.

• The bedroom door handle should be easy-to-grasp, single lever, and operable with one hand.

• There should be a 36” pathway on each side of the bed and at the foot of the bed.

• The mattress should be no higher than 22” from the floor.

• The ceilings should be reinforced to accommodate pulleys for lifting mechanisms (if applicable).

• All thermostats, drapery wands, and lamp controls should be within 48” of the floor.

Closet

• The closet should use slide doors or bi-fold doors with a minimum front clearance of 48” of clear space from the opened door’s edge.

• Swing or bi-fold doors require a maneuvering space that’s the same width as the door opening when extended 48” minimum perpendicular to the doorway.

• The closet rods and shelving should be within 48” of the floor.

• The closet shelves should be no more than 18” deep.

• The closet doors should be bi-fold or slide models for easy opening.

Bathroom Modifications

Bedroom

• The bathroom door should be at least 32” wide.

• The bathroom door handle should be easy-to-grasp, single lever, and operable with one hand.

• The bathroom walls should be reinforced to accommodate grab bars and wall-mounted shower seats.

• All grab bars should be able to support at least 250 pounds.

Toilet

• The toilet should be mounted 33-36” from the floor.

• The toilet seat should be 17-19” from the floor.

• The path to the toilet should be at least 36” wide.

• The grab bar behind the toilet should be 24” long.

• The grab bar beside the toilet should be 32” long.

Sink

• The sink should be mounted no more than 34” from the floor.

• There should be at least 30 x 48” in front of the sink for forward wheelchair approach.

• There should be at least 29” of clearance under the front edge of the sink for wheelchair access.

• The sink faucet should be single-lever and operable with one hand.

• The towel bar should be mounted 36” from the floor.

• The bottom shelf of the medicine cabinet should be no higher than 40” from the floor.

Shower

• The shower seat should be 17-19” from the floor for roll-in showers.

• Roll-in showers should be free of doors, curbs, or lips at their entrance.

• The handheld shower spray unit should have a hose that’s at least 60” long.

• The faucet controls and handheld spray unit should be on the wall next to the shower seat.

• All shower stall units must have 32” clearance at their entry.

Bathtub

• The faucet and controls should be centered on the longest side of the bathtub.

• Each side of the bathtub should have horizontal grab bars that are at least 24” long.

Kitchen Modifications

Cabinets

• The lowest shelves of the upper cabinets should be no higher than 48”.

• The upper cabinets should be mounted 15” above the countertop.

• The lower cabinets should have full-extension drawers and fixed shelves (no doors).

Countertops & Sink

• Include leg room under countertops and sink for wheelchair accessibility.

• L- or U-shaped countertops work best because they’re easy to maneuver around.

• There should be 30” of counter space around the cooktop and sink.

• The kitchen faucet should be single lever and high-arc with a pull-out spray head.

• Include pullout cutting boards in the lower cabinets.

Appliances

• The appliances and sink should be operable from chair height.

• The dishwasher should be mounted at least 6” from the floor.

• The dishwasher should have a pull-out drawer-style opening, rather than a hinged door.

• Microwaves should be installed below countertop height for wheelchair accessibility.

• Wall-mounted ovens should be installed so that the controls are around 48” from the floor.

• Wall switches and wall outlets must be 32-36” from the finished floor.

Other

• Keep knob turners, push-pullers, and tongs handy for easy access.

• Mount the kitchen exhaust fan control switch at the front of the counter.

Miscellaneous Modifications

• If your home is on more than one level, consider investing in a stairlift.

• All doorway thresholds should be no higher than ½”.

• Avoid carpet wherever possible. If you do have carpet, it should be low pile and backed by a ¼” pad.

• All door handles should be mounted at 36” high.

• All interior doors should open easily with no more than five pounds of force.

• All interior hallways should be at least 42” wide.

• All window sills should be no more than 30” from the floor.

• All window controls should be no more than 24” from the floor.

• All electrical outlets should be grounded and mounted 12-16” from the floor.

• All light switches should be illuminated, rocker style, and mounted 42” from the floor.

​