Ramps in Ohio: the residential code, permits and renters

In Ohio, whether a new ramp at your front porch needs a permit is decided less by the state than by a single fact about your address: is there a building department certified to enforce the state's residential code where you live? That one detail determines who reviews the work, if anyone does.

Renters have their own set of rules, and Ohio's fair housing statute is more specific than most about what a landlord may ask for before agreeing to a modification. Both are laid out below, followed by entry equipment that pairs with a ramp.

Ohio's residential building code and who enforces it

The Board of Building Standards writes Ohio's building codes under section 3781.10 of the Revised Code, and it must "incorporate those rules into separate residential and nonresidential building codes." The residential rules "are uniform requirements in any area with a building department certified to enforce the state residential building code," covering both new homes and "The repair and alteration of existing residential buildings." In those areas, a local code may not differ from the state residential code unless it addresses subject matter the state code does not or is adopted under section 3781.01.

What counts as residential is set in section 3781.06: "a one-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling house, and any accessory structure incidental to that dwelling house." An accessory structure is "a structure that is attached to a residential building and serves the principal use of the residential building," including "a garage, porch, or screened-in patio." A ramp built onto a porch or entry plausibly sits in that territory, though the statute does not name ramps.

Section 3781.10 also lets the board certify county, city and township departments for residential work, and says the board "shall not require a building department, its personnel, or any persons that it employs to be certified for residential building code enforcement if that building department does not enforce the state residential building code." The practical step is simple: ask your city, village, township or county building department whether it enforces the residential code for alterations, and if so, whether your ramp design needs approval. We did not find a statewide homeowner exemption for ramps.

Renters are covered by section 4112.02, division (H)(18). It is unlawful to "Refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing housing accommodations" when they "may be necessary to afford the person with a disability full enjoyment of the housing accommodations." A landlord may condition permission on "a reasonable description of the proposed modification and reasonable assurances that the proposed modification will be made in a workerlike manner and that any required building permits will be obtained," on restoring the interior at the end of the tenancy where reasonable, and in some cases on payments into an interest-bearing escrow account whose interest goes to the tenant. The landlord may not demand a security deposit larger than other tenants pay.

Rain, ice and an Ohio entryway

NOAA's Ohio climate summary records a significant increase in 2-inch rain events since the mid-1990s and notes that the wettest multiyear periods have come since 2000. It also says winter "can bring snowstorms and ice storms," and that areas near Lake Erie see lake-effect snow.

A ramp in Ohio therefore needs to shed water and be easy to clear. Keep the bottom landing out of low spots where runoff gathers, and plan for a surface that can be salted or shoveled. At the top, a powered door means less time balancing on a wet landing while working a handle.

Products for the Ohio front door

• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp: bridges a raised threshold up to 4 in with puzzle-edged rubber sections, 36 in of usable width and an 850 lb capacity, assembled without tools or hardware.
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener: designed for any freely swinging door, it opens up to 120 degrees, stops if it meets an obstruction, and comes with a remote that can be handheld or mounted on a wheelchair.
• Open Sesame Proximity Sensor Tag Set: lets the door respond to a carried tag at 3, 6 or 9 ft, with one reader serving both sides of the wall.
• Open Sesame Spec Switch: a light-touch switch for people with very limited hand use. It plugs into an E.C.U. Transmitter (B), which signals the opener.

Help in Ohio

The AT3 Center lists Assistive Technology of Ohio as Ohio's program; the services it shows are lending, demonstration and reuse of devices, plus other state financing. Its own site describes a lending library and says it may be able to direct people to funding resources for a device, though it does not finance purchases itself.

Ordering and delivery to Ohio

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

Questions about ramps in Ohio

Do I need a permit to build a wheelchair ramp at my Ohio home?

Ask your local building department. Under section 3781.10, Ohio's residential code is uniform where a building department is certified to enforce it, including for repairs and alterations of existing homes. If your department enforces the code for alterations, it decides whether your ramp needs approval. We did not find a statewide exemption written for ramps.

Does a porch ramp count as part of the house under Ohio law?

Section 3781.06 defines a residential building to include "any accessory structure incidental to that dwelling house," and an accessory structure as one attached to the house that serves its main use, such as a garage or porch. The statute does not mention ramps by name, so your building department is the one to confirm how it treats one.

What can an Ohio landlord require before I add a ramp?

Section 4112.02(H)(18) lets a landlord ask for a reasonable description of the work, assurance it will be done in a workerlike manner with any required permits, and, where reasonable, an agreement to restore the interior later. An escrow account may be required in some cases, with interest going to you. A larger security deposit than other tenants pay is not allowed.

Which door opener accessory suits limited hand strength?

Open Sesame describes its Spec Switch as a sensitive switch for people with very limited hand use. It must plug into the E.C.U. Transmitter (B), which signals the opener. A proximity tag set is another option, opening the door when a carried tag comes within 3, 6 or 9 feet of the reader.

Browse the ramps and door openers collection, start with the ramp fit check, or look at the whole home through the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Ohio Revised Code section 3781.10, Board of Building Standards rules and certification
• Ohio Revised Code section 3781.06, buildings and definitions
• Ohio Revised Code section 4112.02, unlawful discriminatory practices, division (H)(18)
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Ohio (2022)
• AT3 Center: Ohio
• Assistive Technology of Ohio
• Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp product page
• Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener product page
• Open Sesame Proximity Sensor Tag Set product page
• Open Sesame Spec Switch product page
• Open Sesame E.C.U. Transmitter (B) product page