Ramps in Idaho: local permits, renters' rights and entry help

A ramp is often the first change a family makes when steps at the front door become a barrier, and in Idaho the first question is usually not about lumber or aluminum. It is "who do we have to ask?" For a renter, the question is sharper still: "Will my landlord let me?"

Idaho answers the permit question by sending you to your city or county, and it answers the renter's question in its human rights law. Both are worth reading before the first board goes down.

Who decides whether an Idaho ramp needs a permit

Idaho's building codes are set by the Idaho Building Code Act, Title 39, Chapter 41, but enforcement is local. Idaho Code 39-4116(1) says local governments "may elect to implement a building code enforcement program by passing an ordinance evidencing the intent to do so" (Idaho Code 39-4116). In other words, a city or county chooses whether to run a building program at all.

Where a local government does issue permits, subsection (2) tells it which codes to adopt: local governments "that issue building permits and perform building code enforcement activities shall, by ordinance" adopt the International Building Code, the "Idaho residential code, parts I-III and IX," and the 2018 Idaho energy conservation code. A one-family home falls under the Idaho residential code, so a ramp attached to a house is judged by that code in places that enforce it.

Two consequences follow. First, whether your ramp needs a permit depends on your address: inside a city with a building department, outside it in a county that may or may not run its own program. Second, the details of when a ramp, porch or landing needs a permit live in the residential code as your local government adopted it, along with any local amendments, which subsection (4) allows so long as they provide at least an equivalent level of protection. We could not confirm a statewide homeowner exemption for ramps, so do not assume one. Before you build, ask your city or county building office whether a permit is needed and what it will want to see.

Idaho ties its accessibility rules to the commercial code. Subsection (2)(a) describes the International Building Code as "including all rules promulgated by the board to provide equivalency with the provisions of the Americans with disabilities act accessibility guidelines and the federal fair housing act accessibility guidelines," and subsection (4) says a local jurisdiction "shall not have the authority to amend any accessibility provision" adopted under that framework. Those requirements are written for the buildings the IBC covers; your building office can tell you whether any apply to your project.

If you rent

The Idaho Human Rights Act makes it unlawful "To refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if the modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises" (Idaho Code 67-5909(8)(h)). The tenant pays, and a landlord may, "where it is reasonable to do so," require the renter to restore the premises afterward, reasonable wear and tear excepted. The statute adds that "The provision for restoration shall be included in any lease or rental agreement." A modular ramp that can be removed cleanly fits that arrangement well.

Products for the doorway itself

Our ramps and door openers collection focuses on the threshold and the door, the two spots where a ramp project often stalls.

• The Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp handles thresholds up to 4 in high, gives a 36 in usable width at every height and carries 850 lb. Its sections lock together without tools, which makes it easy to remove when a lease ends.
• The Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener unlatches a locked door through an electric strike, opens it up to 120 degrees and closes it again. An internal battery keeps it working in a power failure, and it runs on a low voltage 24-volt wiring kit.
• For visitors and aides, the Open Sesame Keyless Entry Pad (E) operates the door with a 4-digit code and runs on a 9V battery, with no cable back to the operator.
• The Proximity Sensor Tag Set lets the door respond to a tag at 3, 6 or 9 ft, from either side of the wall.

For a full-length modular ramp to a porch or deck, the ramp fit check asks about rise, turns and landings and returns a quote.

Snow load, ice and a dry south

NOAA's Idaho State Climate Summary describes a state of contrasts. Long-term stations record more than 40 inches of precipitation a year at some northern mountain sites and less than 10 inches in the southwest. Snowfall ranges from about 10 to 20 inches in the southern lowlands to more than 100 inches in the higher mountains, and most precipitation falls between November and May. The summary also notes that flooding occurs frequently, including floods caused by ice or debris jams, and that flash floods typically follow intense spring and summer thunderstorms.

For a ramp, that means a surface that sheds water and gives grip when wet or icy, a plan for shoveling the whole run and its landings, and drainage that keeps meltwater from pooling at the bottom. In snowier areas, a covered entry or a door opener that lets someone get inside quickly can matter as much as the ramp.

Where Idahoans can get help

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project at the University of Idaho is the state's assistive technology program. The AT3 Center lists device loans, demonstrations, reutilization and financial loans. Its own site says it can help "secure a low interest loan to purchase AT," which can apply to entry equipment as well as devices.

Sending entry products to Idaho

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. 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. Read more on the Idaho shipping page.

Questions about ramps in Idaho

Do I need a building permit for a wheelchair ramp in Idaho?

It depends on where you live. Idaho Code 39-4116 lets each city or county choose whether to run a building code enforcement program, and those that do must adopt the Idaho residential code for homes. Whether a ramp needs a permit is set by that code and any local amendments. We could not confirm a statewide exemption, so ask your local building office first.

Can my Idaho landlord refuse to let me add a ramp?

Idaho Code 67-5909(8)(h) makes it unlawful to refuse reasonable modifications that a person with a disability pays for, when they may be necessary for full enjoyment of the home. A landlord may, where reasonable, require you to restore the premises when you leave, and that restoration term must be in the lease or rental agreement.

Who enforces building codes in rural Idaho?

Under Idaho Code 39-4116, enforcement belongs to local governments that choose to run a program by ordinance; a county may or may not have one. For a home ramp, the first stop is your county building or planning office, which can tell you whether the county enforces a building code at your address and what it expects for a ramp, landing or porch.

What helps with a raised threshold at an Idaho front door?

A threshold ramp is often enough for a step of a few inches. The Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp handles thresholds up to 4 in high, has a 36 in usable width and an 850 lb capacity, and assembles without tools. Pair it with an Open Sesame opener if the door is hard to open from a seated position.

Shop the ramps and door openers collection, use the ramp fit check, or take the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Idaho Code 39-4116, local adoption and enforcement of building codes
• Idaho Code 67-5909, Idaho Human Rights Act prohibited acts
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Idaho (2022)
• Idaho Assistive Technology Project
• AT3 Center: Idaho
• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp (Faith Mobility product page)
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener (Faith Mobility product page)
• Open Sesame Keyless Entry Pad (E) (Faith Mobility product page)
• Open Sesame Proximity Sensor Tag Set (Faith Mobility product page)