Ramps in Indiana: Class 2 homes, local permits and renters

Indiana uses its own vocabulary for buildings, and learning two terms, Class 1 and Class 2, answers most of what a family needs to know before building a ramp. Your home is almost certainly Class 2, and that tells you whether the state or your local office is the one to ask.

Renters get a direct answer from Indiana's fair housing law, too. Below are the definitions in the statute's words, followed by climate notes, entry products and where to find help.

Class 1, Class 2 and the state design release

Indiana Code defines a Class 2 structure in IC 22-12-1-5(a) as "any part of the following: (1) A townhouse or a building or structure that is intended to contain or contains only one (1) dwelling unit or two (2) dwelling units unless any part of the building or structure is regularly used as a Class 1 structure," along with outbuildings for those homes such as a garage, barn or family swimming pool. The Class 1 definition in the section just before it states plainly: "Subsection (a)(1) does not include a Class 2 structure."

The distinction matters because of what the state reviews. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security's Building Plan Review FAQ asks, "What buildings must have a design release issued by the state?" and answers: "All Class 1 structures," meaning buildings used by the public, by three or more tenants, or by people working as employees of another, plus "Site improvements which affect accessibility to buildings which are Class 1 structures." A ramp at a church, clinic or store can fall on that side of the line.

A ramp at a one- or two-family house is a different matter. Because the house is a Class 2 structure, the state's design release list does not reach it, and any permit or inspection for your ramp comes from local government, if your city, town or county requires one. IDHS links a Code Officials and Local Building Officials Directory from its plan review page to help you find the right office. We could not confirm the specific Indiana residential code provisions on when a ramp needs a permit, so let your local building official tell you before work begins.

Renting in Indiana

Indiana's fair housing law, IC 22-9.5-5-5(c)(1), treats as discrimination "A refusal to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person if the modifications may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises." The renter pays; the landlord may not refuse a reasonable request. Talk with your landlord in writing about the design and about what happens to the ramp when you move.

Rain, snow and Indiana entrances

NOAA's Indiana State Climate Summary records how wet Indiana can be: annual precipitation has ranged from 29.1 inches in 1963 to 55.2 inches in 2011, and the wettest five-year stretch on record was 2015 to 2019, averaging 47.2 inches a year. In July 2015 Indianapolis had its wettest July on record, 8.7 inches above normal. The summary also reports an increase in 2-inch extreme rain events.

Snow adds to that in the north, where some locations near Lake Michigan average more than 70 inches a year. A ramp here needs a surface with traction when soaked, a bottom landing that does not collect runoff, and enough clearance at the sides to shovel. Where water tends to pool at a door sill, a threshold ramp can smooth the last few inches.

Products for an Indiana front door

• The Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp covers thresholds up to 4 in high. Every height has a 36 in usable width and an 850 lb capacity, and the non-slip rubber has beveled sides.
• The Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener opens a door up to 120 degrees, stops if it meets an obstruction, and keeps working on an internal battery during a power failure. When it is not running, the clutch lets go, so anyone can still push the door by hand.
• For very limited hand use, the Open Sesame Spec Switch is a sensitive, light-touch switch. It works only through an E.C.U. Transmitter (B), which it plugs into and which then tells the opener to run.
• The Keychain Transmitter (C) is a one-button remote that rides on a key ring and runs on two 3V 2016 coin cells.

Planning a full ramp to a porch or deck? The ramp fit check gathers the rise and layout for a quote.

Help from INDATA

The AT3 Center lists Indiana's assistive technology act program, the INDATA Project, with device loans, demonstrations, reuse and financial loans. INDATA describes low-interest, extended-term bank loans from $500 to $30,000 through a lending partner, an option when other funding does not cover assistive technology.

Shipping entry products to Indiana

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. See the Indiana shipping page.

Questions about ramps in Indiana

Does Indiana require a state design release for a home ramp?

Not for a one- or two-family home. IDHS says state design releases are required for Class 1 structures, which IC 22-12-1-4 says do not include Class 2 structures. A Class 2 structure under IC 22-12-1-5 includes a building with one or two dwelling units. Check with your local building official about a local permit.

Does a ramp at an Indiana church or business need state review?

It may. IDHS lists all Class 1 structures, meaning buildings used by the public, three or more tenants or employees of another, as needing a state design release, along with site improvements that affect accessibility to Class 1 buildings. Contact IDHS Building Plan Review to confirm what your project needs.

Can my Indiana landlord refuse a ramp I pay for?

IC 22-9.5-5-5(c)(1) says refusing to permit reasonable modifications, at the expense of the person with a disability, is discrimination when they may be necessary for full enjoyment of the premises. Put your request in writing, describe the ramp, and agree with the landlord on what happens when you move out.

What helps someone with limited hand strength open an Indiana front door?

An automatic opener with an easy switch. The Open Sesame Residential opener opens the door up to 120 degrees and keeps running on battery in an outage. Pair it with the Open Sesame Spec Switch, a sensitive light-touch switch that plugs into the E.C.U. Transmitter (B), or a keychain remote.

Everything for the doorway is in the ramps and door openers collection. You can also use the ramp fit check, or take the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Indiana Code 22-12-1-5, Class 2 structure (and 22-12-1-4, Class 1)
• Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Building Plan Review FAQ
• Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Building Plan Review
• Indiana Code 22-9.5-5-5, disability discrimination in housing
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Indiana (2022)
• AT3 Center: Indiana
• INDATA Project services
• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp (Faith Mobility product page)
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener (Faith Mobility product page)
• Open Sesame Spec Switch (Faith Mobility product page)
• Open Sesame Keychain Transmitter (C) (Faith Mobility product page)