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Ontario Building Code Accessibility: Barrier-Free Design (Section 3.8)

Barrier-free design in the 2024 Ontario Building Code: which buildings it covers, 1,100 mm paths, 850 mm doors, 1 in 12 ramps and universal washrooms.
minimum barrier-free path width
1,100 mm
minimum barrier-free path width
clear width of a barrier-free doorway
850 mm
clear width of a barrier-free doorway
maximum ramp gradient
1 in 12
maximum ramp gradient
turning circle in a universal washroom
1,700 mm
turning circle in a universal washroom

Last updated

Barrier-free (accessibility) rules in the 2024 Ontario Building Code are in Section 3.8 of Division B, and they apply to almost every building except houses: detached and semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses and small rooming houses are exempt (OBC Div. B 3.8.1.1.OBC Div. B 3.8.1.1. Application(1) The requirements of this Section apply to all buildings except (a) detached houses, semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses and boarding or rooming houses with fewer than 8 boarders or roomers, (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1) of Division A, Secondary Suite) (b)…). Where Section 3.8 applies, a barrier-free path of travel must have an unobstructed width of at least 1,100 mm (OBC Div. B 3.8.1.3.OBC Div. B 3.8.1.3. Barrier-Free Path of Travel(1) Except as required in Sentence (4) and except as permitted in Subsection 3.8.3., every barrier-free path of travel shall provide an unobstructed width of at least 1,100 mm for the passage of wheelchairs. (2) Interior and exterior walking surfaces that are within a barrier-free path of travel shall (a) have no…).

Part 9 buildings are not a way out: every Part 9 building must also follow Section 3.8, with the same house exemptions (OBC Div. B 9.5.2.1.OBC Div. B 9.5.2.1. General(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Article 3.8.1.1., every building shall be designed in conformance with Section 3.8. (2) The requirements of Section 3.8. need not be provided for detached houses, semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, row houses and boarding or rooming…). This guide covers where barrier-free design is required, the core dimensions, washrooms, and how the code relates to the AODA. Your building department has the final say on your project.

Key barrier-free values at a glance

Element Value Where to look
Path of travel, unobstructed width at least 1,100 mm 3.8.1.3.(1)
Turning space if the path is under 1,600 mm wide 1,800 mm x 1,800 mm, not more than 30 m apart 3.8.1.3.(4)
Openings in walking surfaces stop a 13 mm sphere 3.8.1.3.(2)
Level change without a ramp not more than 13 mm, bevelled 3.8.1.3.(2)
Doorway clear width at least 850 mm 3.8.3.3.(1)
Door opening devices 900 mm to 1,100 mm above the floor 3.8.3.3.(3)
Door opening force (no power operator) 38 N exterior, 22 N interior 3.8.3.3.(7)
Ramp gradient not steeper than 1 in 12 3.8.3.4.(1)
Ramp width between handrails at least 1,000 mm 3.8.3.4.(1)
Ramp level areas, top and bottom at least 1,700 mm x 1,700 mm 3.8.3.4.(1)
Ramp landings at least every 9 m 3.8.3.4.(1)
Ramp handrail height 865 mm to 965 mm 3.8.3.4.(1)
Walk treated as a ramp steeper than 1 in 20 3.8.3.4.(3)
Barrier-free stall turning space 1,500 mm diameter 3.8.3.8.(1)
Universal washroom turning space 1,700 mm diameter 3.8.3.12.(1)

Our own summary of selected Sentences, not a copy of the code. The articles have more conditions than fit in a table.

Which buildings need barrier-free design

Section 3.8 applies to all buildings except (3.8.1.1.OBC Div. B 3.8.1.1. Application(1) The requirements of this Section apply to all buildings except (a) detached houses, semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses and boarding or rooming houses with fewer than 8 boarders or roomers, (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1) of Division A, Secondary Suite) (b)…):

  • detached houses, semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses, and boarding or rooming houses with fewer than 8 boarders or roomers,
  • Group F, Division 1 (high-hazard industrial) buildings,
  • buildings not meant to be occupied daily or full time, such as pumphouses and substations, and
  • camps for housing workers.

Entrances. All pedestrian entrances to a barrier-free storey, other than service entrances, must be barrier-free and connect to a barrier-free exterior path (3.8.1.2.OBC Div. B 3.8.1.2. Entrances(1) Except as provided in Sentence 3.13.8.1.(2) and except for service entrances, all pedestrian entrances to a barrier-free storey of a building referred to in Sentence 3.8.1.1.(1) shall be barrier-free and shall connect to a barrier-free exterior path of travel complying with Sentence 3.8.2.2.(1). (2) In addition to…). The exterior path must link the entrance to barrier-free parking, any passenger loading zone, and the public thoroughfare (3.8.2.2.OBC Div. B 3.8.2.2. Barrier-Free Paths of Travel to Building Entrances, Exterior Passenger Loading Zones, and Access to Parking Areas(1) A direct barrier-free path of travel shall be provided between a barrier-free entrance referred to in Article 3.8.1.2. to (a) a designated barrier-free parking area, where provided, (b) an exterior passenger-loading zone, where provided, and (c) a public thoroughfare. (See Note A-3.8.2.2.(1) and (4)) (2) The…).

Where the path must go. The barrier-free path runs throughout the entrance storey and within all normally occupied floor areas and rooftop amenity spaces (3.8.2.1.OBC Div. B 3.8.2.1. Areas Requiring Barrier-Free Path of Travel(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a barrier-free path of travel from the entrances required by Sentences 3.8.1.2.(1) and (2) to be barrier-free shall be provided (a) throughout the entrance storey, and (b) within all normally occupied floor areas and rooftop amenity spaces, unless as permitted by Sentence (2)…). There are exceptions. One that matters for small buildings: the path need not reach floor areas with residential (Group C) or business and personal services (Group D) occupancies in a building of three storeys or less with a building area of 600 m² or less. Service rooms, crawl spaces and attics are also excluded.

Apartments. In a Group C apartment building, at least 15% of suites need a barrier-free path from the suite door to a bedroom, a bathroom, the kitchen and the living space, and that bathroom must allow a 1,500 mm wheelchair turn (3.8.2.1.(5) and (6)OBC Div. B 3.8.2.1. Areas Requiring Barrier-Free Path of Travel(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a barrier-free path of travel from the entrances required by Sentences 3.8.1.2.(1) and (2) to be barrier-free shall be provided (a) throughout the entrance storey, and (b) within all normally occupied floor areas and rooftop amenity spaces, unless as permitted by Sentence (2)…).

Doors and ramps

Every doorway in a barrier-free path needs a clear width of at least 850 mm with the door open (3.8.3.3.OBC Div. B 3.8.3.3. Doorways and Doors(1) Every doorway that is located in a barrier-free path of travel shall have a clear width of not less than 850 mm when the door is in the open position. (See Note A-3.8.3.3.(1)) (2) Except as provided in Sentence 3.3.4.11.(11) and except where no bathroom within the suite is at the level of the suite entrance door…). Doors through a barrier-free entrance need a power door operator, as do doors to barrier-free public washrooms. Without a power operator, closers must let the door open with no more than 38 N of force on exterior doors and 22 N on interior doors.

Ramps in a barrier-free path are limited to a gradient of 1 in 12, with handrails on both sides, guards of at least 1,070 mm where a guard is used, and a 50 mm curb or barrier where there is no solid side (3.8.3.4.OBC Div. B 3.8.3.4. Ramps(1) A ramp located in a barrier-free path of travel shall (a) have a minimum width not less than 1,000 mm between handrails, (See Note A-3.4.3.4.) (b) have a maximum gradient of 1 in 12, (See Note A-3.8.3.3.(1)(b)) (c) have a level area of at least 1,700 mm by 1,700 mm at the top and bottom of a ramp and where a door…). Any walk or floor steeper than 1 in 20 must be designed as a ramp.

Washrooms

Where the building needs washrooms and the storey must be barrier-free, those washrooms must meet the stall, water closet, urinal and lavatory rules, and the number of barrier-free stalls and universal washrooms comes from Tables 3.8.2.3.-A and -B (3.8.2.3.OBC Div. B 3.8.2.3. Washrooms Required to be Barrier-Free(1) A barrier-free path of travel shall be provided to barrier-free washrooms designed to accommodate persons with disabilities in conformance with the requirements in Articles 3.8.3.8. to 3.8.3.12. (2) The number of universal washrooms conforming to Article 3.8.3.12. provided in a building in which a washroom is…).

  • Barrier-free stall: a 1,500 mm turning space inside, a 1,500 mm clear space in front, an 850 mm door opening, and the water closet centred 460 mm to 480 mm from a side wall with a 900 mm by 1,500 mm transfer space on the other side (3.8.3.8.OBC Div. B 3.8.3.8. Water Closet Stalls and Enclosures(1) Every barrier-free water closet stall or enclosure in a washroom described in Sentence 3.8.2.3.(3) or (4) shall (a) have a clear turning space within the stall or enclosure of at least 1,500 mm in diameter, (See Note A-3.8.3.8.(1)(a)) (b) have a clear floor space in front of the stall or enclosure of at least…).
  • Universal washroom: a single room with no internal wall-to-wall dimension under 1,700 mm, a 1,700 mm turning space, a power door that locks from inside, grab bars, an emergency call system, motion-sensor lighting, and in most cases a clear 810 mm by 1,830 mm space for an adult change table (3.8.3.12.OBC Div. B 3.8.3.12. Universal Washrooms(1) A universal washroom room shall (a) be served by a barrier-free path of travel, (b) have a door that (i) complies with Article 3.8.3.3., (ii) has a graspable latch-operating mechanism that is (A) operable using a closed fist and with a force of not more than 22.2 N, and (B) located between 900 mm and 1,000 mm…).

The Building Code and the AODA

The Building Code governs accessibility of buildings: new construction, extensive renovations and changes of use, through Section 3.8 and the permit process. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 is a separate law. Its Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (O. Reg. 191/11) includes the Design of Public Spaces standards, which cover spaces such as exterior walkways, outdoor play spaces, recreational trails and accessible parking. A project can be subject to both, and meeting one does not automatically satisfy the other.

Common mistakes

  1. Assuming Part 9 buildings are exempt. Only the house types listed in 3.8.1.1. are exempt.
  2. Measuring door width to the slab. The 850 mm is the clear width with the door open.
  3. Missing the 1 in 20 rule. A gently sloped walk can still be a ramp in code terms.
  4. Confusing a barrier-free stall with a universal washroom. They have different turning circles and features.

How to look it up yourself

Open Volume 1 of the 2024 Compendium, Division B, Part 3, Section 3.8 "Barrier-Free Design" (Section 3.8 in our viewer). Search terms that appear in the code text: "barrier-free path of travel", "Universal Washrooms", "Water Closet Stalls and Enclosures", "Doorways and Doors" and "Ramps". Start every question at Article 3.8.1.1. to confirm the building is covered.

The BCIN exam angle

Barrier-free design is tested on the Small Buildings exam, the Large Buildings exam and the plumbing exams, which cover barrier-free washrooms. Read the free chapters on plumbing, health care, food premises and barrier-free design and health requirements and barrier-free design. The areas and heights method helps with the 600 m² and three-storey tests that decide which exceptions apply.

Based on the official 2024 Building Code Compendium on ontario.ca.

© King's Printer for Ontario, 2024. Reproduced with permission.

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Frequently asked questions

Does the Ontario Building Code require houses to be accessible?
No. Section 3.8 does not apply to detached houses, semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses, or boarding and rooming houses with fewer than 8 boarders (Division B, Articles 3.8.1.1. and 9.5.2.1.).
How wide must a barrier-free path of travel be in Ontario?
At least 1,100 mm of unobstructed width. Where the path is narrower than 1,600 mm, it needs a 1,800 mm by 1,800 mm turning space at least every 30 m (Division B, Article 3.8.1.3.).
What is the maximum slope of an accessible ramp in Ontario?
1 in 12. The ramp must be at least 1,000 mm wide between handrails, have level areas of at least 1,700 mm by 1,700 mm at the top and bottom, and a level landing at least every 9 m. Any walk steeper than 1 in 20 in a barrier-free path is treated as a ramp (Division B, Article 3.8.3.4.).
How big is a universal washroom in the Ontario Building Code?
No internal dimension between walls may be less than 1,700 mm, and it must allow a wheelchair to turn in a 1,700 mm diameter open space. It also needs a power door operator, an emergency call system and grab bars (Division B, Article 3.8.3.12.).
Is the Building Code the same as the AODA?
No. The Building Code sets accessibility requirements for buildings through Section 3.8. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act sets separate standards, including the Design of Public Spaces standards for exterior spaces such as walkways, parking and recreational trails, under the Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation.