California Handicap Bathroom Requirements

California has various plumbing codes in place to ensure that public bathrooms meet minimum health standards.

California handicap bathroom requirements.

The codes prescribe everything from the location of restrooms for example you can t have customers passing through food preparation areas to reach the public restroom facilities to the type of door to be fitted to toilet cubicles and technical details for sanitary drainage. For example an accessible restroom lavatory must be no more than 34 inches from the floor and provide accessible knee clearance below. If a bathroom is provided there must be at least 30 inches by 48 inches of floor space available in at least one bathroom. Ada standards for accessible design can be downloaded from www ada.

Handicap accessible bathrooms must be able to accommodate at least a 60 inch diameter turning space for a wheelchair. Lavatory installation an accessible lavatory at least one in each bathroom must extend at least 17 inches from the back wall and have a clearance of at least 29 inches from the bottom of the sink apron to the finished floor. The minimum width of the restroom accessible path of travel shall be 36 inches and may reduce in width to 32 inches for a length not to exceed 24 inches. The current california building standards code was written to provide a single code which would meet all of the most stringent requirements of the original california building standards code as well as the 1991 federal fair housing amendments act and the americans with disabilities act accessibility guidelines.

The center line of the toilet must be between 16 and 18 inches from the side wall. Handicapped symbol 36 x 36 in white on blue background shall be visible when vehicle is parked. Accessible fixtures typically are those that meet certain height requirements. Ccr section 11b 403 5 1 exception 1 an unobstructed turning space 27 inches high and at least 60 inches in diameter is required inside the restroom for voters who use wheelchairs.

For more information for information about the ada including the revised 2010 ada regulations please visit the department s website www ada gov. A clear circle of at least 60 inches around the side wall and 56 inches from the rear wall to allow a wheelchair to turn the door cannot swing into the minimum required area for wheelchair accessible toilet compartments. One of the benefits of building a custom bathroom is that you can make it handicap accessible while using the americans with disabilities act s required minimum. The lavatory must not be installed at heights greater than 34.

Stall outlines in blue with handicapped symbol in white located anywhere in the stall place. Building a handicapped bathroom.