Ramps in Connecticut: permits, renters' rights and doors

When a doorway step becomes the hardest part of getting home, Connecticut families tend to ask whether a ramp needs a permit, and whether a landlord can say no. State law gives clear starting points on both questions, though the final word on your particular ramp belongs to your town's building official.

Read on for the statutes, what snow and rain mean for a ramp, threshold and door products that help, and where to find state support.

Permits, the building code and tenants

Connecticut sets a broad permit rule in section 29-263(a): "no building or structure shall be constructed or altered until an application has been filed with the building official and a permit issued" (C.G.S. chapter 541). The same subsection says a permit will not be issued to a contractor required to register under chapter 400 unless the contractor's name, address and Department of Consumer Protection registration number are on the application. A permit is to be issued or refused within thirty days.

The rules a ramp is built to come from the State Building Code. The Department of Administrative Services says the code "applies to all newly-constructed buildings, as well as those undergoing alterations, additions, or changes of use," and that the 2022 edition, based on the 2021 International Codes and referencing ICC A117.1-2017 for accessibility, "applies to projects with permit applications filed from October 1, 2022" (DAS State Building Code). We did not find a statewide homeowner exemption for small ramps; whether yours needs a permit is a question for the local building official.

Renters have protection. Under section 46a-64c(a)(6)(C), housing discrimination includes "A refusal to permit, at the expense of a person with a physical or mental disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises" (C.G.S. chapter 814c). For rentals, the landlord may, where reasonable, condition permission on the renter agreeing to restore the interior afterward, "reasonable wear and tear excepted." Note the cost falls on the person asking, and the restoration condition speaks to the interior.

A practical order of steps follows from this. Measure the rise at the door, decide on the ramp's route, ask the town building official whether a permit is needed, and, if you rent, put the modification request to the landlord in writing before anything is ordered.

Door openers and threshold ramps for Connecticut homes

• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp: handles thresholds up to 4 inches, gives a 36 inch usable width and an 850 lb capacity, and its non-slip rubber sections lock together without tools.
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener: unlatches through an electric strike, opens up to 120 degrees and holds for 5 to 30 seconds, with an internal battery that keeps it working in a power failure.
• Open Sesame Keyless Entry Pad (E): a wireless outdoor keypad that opens the door with a 4-digit code, handy for a visiting aide or family member.
• Open Sesame Proximity Sensor Tag Set: a reader with 3, 6 and 9 foot settings that responds to a tag, so a rider with full hands need not reach for a remote.

Product details are from our store's product pages. For a modular ramp sized to your steps, the ramp fit check below does the measuring with you.

Rain, snow and storm outages

NOAA's Connecticut summary describes precipitation that is "abundant but highly variable from year to year," with the wettest five-year stretch, 2007 to 2011, averaging 53.6 inches a year and the most 2-inch downpours recorded between 2005 and 2014. Snow ranges from 30 to 35 inches a season on the coast to 50 inches in the Northwest Hills, and landfalling hurricanes brought hurricane-force winds to the state 7 times from 1900 to 2019.

For an outdoor ramp, that points to a surface that keeps its grip when wet, a plan for clearing snow, and drainage at the bottom. If a storm knocks the power out, an automatic opener with battery backup keeps the door usable, so check for that feature before you buy.

Connecticut's assistive technology help

The AT3 Center lists the Connecticut Assistive Technology Program in Hartford, offering device loans, demonstrations, reutilization, a financial loan and other state financing. The Connecticut Tech Act Project describes its financial program as a lower-interest loan "to help purchase AT devices and/or services you want or need," which may cover home access work.

Ordering ramps and door openers to Connecticut

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 on orders 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 Connecticut shipping page has the details, and the ramp fit check takes your rise and layout.

Questions about ramps in Connecticut

Do I need a permit to build a ramp in Connecticut?

Section 29-263(a) says no building or structure may be constructed or altered until an application is filed with the building official and a permit issued. We found no statewide exemption for small residential ramps, so ask your town's building official before work starts. The official must issue or refuse a permit within thirty days.

Which building code applies to a ramp in Connecticut?

The Connecticut State Building Code. The Department of Administrative Services says the 2022 edition, based on the 2021 International Codes and referencing ICC A117.1-2017 for accessibility, applies to projects with permit applications filed from October 1, 2022. Your building official applies it to your project.

Can my Connecticut landlord refuse a ramp?

Section 46a-64c treats refusing reasonable modifications, made at the disabled person's expense and needed for full enjoyment of the premises, as a discriminatory housing practice. For rentals, a landlord may reasonably require that the interior be restored afterward, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

Will an automatic door opener work during a storm outage?

The Open Sesame Residential opener has an internal battery that keeps it running in a power failure, according to its product page. That matters in a state where NOAA counts 7 hurricane-force wind events from landfalling hurricanes between 1900 and 2019, along with nor'easters and winter storms.

Does a threshold ramp need a permit in Connecticut?

We could not confirm. Section 29-263 ties the permit requirement to constructing or altering a building or structure,, and we found no Connecticut text that addresses a loose rubber threshold ramp, which assembles without tools. Your town building official can give you a definite answer before you order.

See our ramps and door openers, begin the ramp fit check, or try the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Connecticut General Statutes chapter 541 (s. 29-263, permits)
• Connecticut Department of Administrative Services: State Building Code
• Connecticut General Statutes chapter 814c (s. 46a-64c, housing discrimination)
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries 2022: Connecticut
• AT3 Center: Connecticut Assistive Technology Program
• Connecticut Tech Act Project
• Product specifications: Faith Mobility product pages linked above