Ramps in California: Title 24, local permits, tenant rights

A California family planning a ramp usually starts with two questions. Does the city need to sign off on it, and, if the home is rented, can the landlord say no? California law answers the second question in unusual detail, and points you to the right office for the first.

Below are the statutes in their own words, a look at what California weather does to an outdoor ramp, and the entrance products that pair well with one.

Building standards, permits and renters in California

California's building rules come from a single statewide code. Health and Safety Code 18938(b) says the building standards adopted into the California Building Standards Code "shall apply to all occupancies throughout the state." The Building Standards Commission states that "The 2025 California Building Standards Code (Cal. Code Regs., Title 24) will be published July 1, 2025, with an effective date of January 1, 2026," and its role includes "Reviewing to accept/reject for filing local code ordinances" (BSC).

Enforcement at your house is local. Under Health and Safety Code 17960, "The building department of every city or county shall enforce within its jurisdiction all the provisions published in the State Building Standards Code" for the construction or alteration of "apartment houses, hotels, or dwellings." We could not open the residential code text on ramp permits, and we found no official statement that a home ramp is exempt, so the question of whether yours needs a permit belongs to your city or county building department. Ask before you buy materials, and mention the height of the steps you are replacing.

Renters: reasonable modifications at the tenant's expense

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act defines discrimination to include "the refusal to permit, at the expense of the disabled person, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the disabled person, if the modifications may be necessary to afford the disabled person full enjoyment of the premises" (Government Code 12927(c)(1)). For a rental, the landlord may, "where it is reasonable to do so," require the renter to agree to restore the interior afterward.

The Civil Code adds practical detail. Civil Code 54.1(b)(3)(A) provides that a landlord "shall not refuse to permit an individual with a disability, at that person's expense, to make reasonable modifications of the existing rented premises if the modifications are necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises." It also states that "No additional security may be required on account of an election to make modifications," though the parties "may negotiate" an escrow amount "not to exceed a reasonable estimate of the cost of restoring the premises." The landlord is not required to pay: under 54.1(b)(4), the subdivision "does not require a person renting, leasing, or providing for compensation real property to modify his or her property in any way."

In short, a tenant generally pays for the ramp, the landlord generally cannot refuse a reasonable one, and restoration terms are part of the conversation. Put the request in writing.

Door and threshold products for a California entrance

A ramp gets someone to the door; these help with the door itself:

• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp: handles thresholds up to 4 in, from a 12 x 39 in size at 1 in high to 48 x 46 in at 4 in high, all with a 36 in usable width and 850 lb capacity. Its pieces lock together without tools or hardware, which can suit a rental.
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener: the Model 133 unlatches a locked door through an electric strike, then opens, pauses and closes it, with an internal battery for power failures and a clutch that lets the door work by hand.
• Open Sesame Voice Interface: connects an Open Sesame operator to Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa, and can be added to existing units on the 433 MHz frequency.
• Open Sesame Proximity Sensor Tag Set: a tag reader with 3 ft, 6 ft and 9 ft settings that works from both sides of the wall, so the door responds as you approach. Two tags come in the set.

Atmospheric rivers, fire seasons and ramp surfaces

NOAA's California State Climate Summary warns that atmospheric rivers "are capable of causing torrential rainfall," and that precipitation varies "from less than 3 inches in Death Valley in the southeast to more than 100 inches near Eureka in the northwest." It also notes that "The denuding of vegetation by wildfires increases the risks of mudslides and flooding when heavy rain occurs," and that "wildfires are a common occurrence, particularly toward the end of summer."

For a ramp, that argues for a slip-resistant surface, a landing that sheds water away from the door, and footings that will not wash out in a hard winter storm. In fire country, keeping the area under and around a ramp clear of leaves and debris is part of ordinary upkeep. In the dry south, where storms are rarer, sun exposure on the surface and handrails is the bigger day-to-day concern.

Ability Tools: borrowing and financing

California's AT Act program, Ability Tools, is operated with the Department of Rehabilitation, which reports "12 Device Lending Libraries across the state which have AT devices for people to borrow for 30 days or more" (DOR). Borrowing a device for a few weeks can help a household test what works before committing to something permanent. The AT3 Center lists the FreedomTech Financial Loan Program among its services.

Ordering for a California home

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Our California shipping page has the details, and the ramp fit check starts with your rise.

Questions about ramps in California

Do I need a permit to build a wheelchair ramp in California?

California applies one building standards code statewide, but Health and Safety Code 17960 gives enforcement for dwellings to "The building department of every city or county." We found no official statement that a home ramp is exempt, so ask your local building department whether your design needs a permit before construction begins.

Can my California landlord refuse a wheelchair ramp?

Civil Code 54.1(b)(3)(A) says a landlord "shall not refuse to permit an individual with a disability, at that person's expense, to make reasonable modifications" that are necessary for full enjoyment of the premises. The landlord may ask you to agree to restore the interior, and Government Code 12927(c)(1) says the same in fair housing terms.

Can a landlord charge an extra deposit for a ramp?

No additional security may be required because a tenant makes modifications, under Civil Code 54.1(b)(3)(A). The landlord and tenant may negotiate an escrow payment as part of the restoration agreement, "not to exceed a reasonable estimate of the cost of restoring the premises." Keep that agreement in writing.

Who pays for a ramp at a California rental?

Generally the tenant. Both statutes describe modifications made "at the expense of" the person with a disability, and Civil Code 54.1(b)(4) says the law does not require a landlord "to modify his or her property in any way." Some programs may help with cost, so ask Ability Tools about financing.

Which entrance products help on rainy California winters?

NOAA notes that atmospheric rivers can bring torrential rainfall. A slip-resistant ramp surface and a landing that drains away from the door matter most. An automatic opener such as the Open Sesame Model 133 means nobody has to hold a door open on a wet landing, and its battery backup keeps it working during a power failure.

Explore the ramps and door openers collection, start the ramp fit check, or go through the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• California Health and Safety Code 18938
• California Health and Safety Code 17960
• California Building Standards Commission: codes
• California Building Standards Commission: about
• California Government Code 12927
• California Civil Code 54.1
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: California
• Ability Tools
• California Department of Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
• AT3 Center: California
• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp product page
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener product page
• Open Sesame Voice Interface product page
• Open Sesame Proximity Sensor Tag Set product page