Ramps in New Jersey: no listed permit exemption, so ask first

Before anyone builds a ramp at a New Jersey home, keep one short sentence in mind: New Jersey's construction code lists no permit exemption for ramps, so check with your local construction office. The rest of this guide explains why we put it that way, and what to think about at the shore.

We also cover entries where a threshold ramp or an automatic door opener does the job without new construction.

Reading the Uniform Construction Code

The state's Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, keeps a list of work that does not need a permit at 5:23-2.14(b). Ramps are not on it. Two other parts of the code come up when people look for a way around that:

• Ordinary maintenance (5:23-2.7(c)1.xiii) covers repair or replacement of part of a deck, porch or stoop. Whether a new ramp could count as that kind of repair is for the office to decide; on its face, a ramp adds something new rather than repairing what is there.
• Minor work (5:23-2.17A) still requires a permit, though the code allows work to start on notice to the construction office.

So the safe course is to treat a ramp as permitted work and let your municipal construction office tell you which track it falls on. That office applies the same statewide code, but it is the one that reviews your plan, issues the permit and inspects the result. We cannot decide any of that for your property, and nothing here is legal advice.

If you rent, your landlord's written permission should come before any of this. New Jersey's housing discrimination law may give a tenant with a disability rights to reasonable changes, but we were not able to open and confirm the exact statutory wording for this guide, so we do not quote it. A fair housing organization or an attorney can tell you where you stand.

One more point from the code: the stoop or porch the ramp will meet may itself need repair first. Ordinary maintenance of part of a porch is listed separately from new work, and the construction office can tell you whether the two jobs should be handled together.

Shore homes, storms and drainage

NOAA's New Jersey climate summary reports that "Sea level along the New Jersey coast has risen by more than 16 inches, double the global average, since 1911." Superstorm Sandy's surge reached 9 to 10 feet above normal in some areas, and the state sees at least one coastal storm a year, with as many as five to ten in some years. At Atlantic City, tidal flood days have occurred almost every year since 1989, with a record 22 in 2017. Inland, days with 2 inches or more of rain ran about 50% above the long-term average from 2010 to 2014.

If your home is near the water, mention flood exposure when you speak with the construction office, and think about where a ramp will drain, how its surface will hold traction when wet, and how it will stand up through nor'easter season, which NOAA says runs from October to April.

Matching the fix to the doorway

• A raised threshold. Harmar's Rubber Threshold Ramp handles rises up to 4 inches, with a 36-inch usable width and an 850 lb capacity, assembled from half-inch sections on a 1-inch base with no tools (Harmar).
• A door that fights you. The Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener stops if it meets an obstruction during a cycle, and its clutch disengages when not active so the door still works by hand, according to its product page.
• Letting visitors in. The Open Sesame Keyless Entry Pad (E) is a wireless keypad mounted outside the door; entering a 4-digit code operates the opener.
• Very limited hand use. The Open Sesame Spec Switch is built for a light touch. It plugs into an E.C.U. Transmitter (B), which signals the operator, so plan on both.

For steps, a stoop or a porch, our ramp quote walks you through the rise, the layout and the landings, and gives you a price for the job. Bring the answer from your construction office with you.

Help in New Jersey

The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) at Disability Rights New Jersey serves as the state's federally funded assistive technology project and offers demonstrations, a loan library and device reuse (AT3 Center). It is a sensible place to explore other home equipment at the same time.

Installation and delivery

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. Faith Mobility ships to the lower 48 states and DC. Shipping is free on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), we cover the sales tax on every order, and most products are processed in 2-5 business days, though some brands differ. Start a ramp quote and see our New Jersey shipping page.

Questions about ramps in New Jersey

Do I need a permit for a wheelchair ramp in New Jersey?

Assume so until your construction office says otherwise. The Uniform Construction Code's list of work exempt from permits, at N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14(b), does not include ramps. Minor work under 5:23-2.17A still needs a permit, though work may start on notice. Your municipal construction office decides which track applies.

Is a ramp "ordinary maintenance" under the New Jersey code?

Ordinary maintenance at 5:23-2.7(c)1.xiii covers repair or replacement of part of a deck, porch or stoop. A new ramp adds something rather than repairing it, so it may not fit that category. Only your construction office can say how it reads the rule for your project, so ask before work begins.

How does flooding at the shore affect a ramp?

NOAA reports sea level on the New Jersey coast up more than 16 inches since 1911 and a record 22 tidal flood days at Atlantic City in 2017. If your home is near the water, raise flood exposure with the construction office and plan drainage, traction and anchoring for storm season.

What if the only barrier is a raised threshold?

A threshold ramp may be enough. Harmar's Rubber Threshold Ramp handles rises up to 4 inches with a 36-inch usable width and an 850 lb capacity, and it assembles with no tools or hardware. It sits at the doorway rather than being built in, so ask your construction office if you are unsure whether it needs review.

Can an automatic door opener help instead of a ramp?

It solves a different problem. An opener helps when the door, not the step, is the obstacle. The Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener unlatches the door through an electric strike, opens it, pauses and closes it. Many entries need both a level approach and an easier door, so look at them together.

Browse ramps and door openers, price the job with the ramp quote, or take the full assessment for the whole entry. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: New Jersey (2022)
• Harmar rubber threshold ramps
• Faith Mobility: Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener product page
• Faith Mobility: Open Sesame Keyless Entry Pad (E) product page
• Faith Mobility: Open Sesame Spec Switch product page
• Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC)
• AT3 Center: state AT programs