This applies to the construction of new homes

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 54 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE

TO ADD A NEW Section 54-33 THERETO (VISITABILITY CODE)

The Pine Lake City Council finds that:

(1)     Whether due to injury or age, there is a great likelihood for each of us, at some time in our life, to suffer a temporary or permanent condition that limits mobility or the ability to perform daily tasks of living.

(2)     A residence that provides basic accessibility offers the possibility of occupancy or visitation by a disabled person. An occupant of a home that has wide doorways and reachable switches who becomes disabled, whether temporarily or permanently, may be able to remain at home and avoid or delay the great expense and emotional trauma of institutionalization.  People with mobility impairments are able to enter homes with basic accessibility to visit family, friends, and neighbors.

(3) The increased cost of constructing a residence with a step-free entrance, doorways wide enough to permit wheelchair access, electrical outlets reachable by a someone in a wheelchair, and bathroom walls reinforced to permit installation of grab bars is minimal, while the costs and disruption associated with retrofitting an existing home to be minimally accessible are substantial.

Now therefore be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Pine Lake the Municipal Code of the City of Pine Lake shall be amended to add a new Section  54-33 which shall read as follows:

 
ARTICLE 9 – VISITABILITY CODE

 PURPOSE                  The purpose of this Article is to establish minimum regulations for the design, installation and construction of single family and attached single family homes, by providing reasonable criteria for visitability by persons with disabilities. 

TITLE             This article shall be known as the Visitability Code of Pine Lake and is hereinafter referred to as the “Visitability Code” or “this Code”. 

STEP-FREE ENTRANCES.  Revise Section R322.1 ‘Scope’ of the 2006 International Residential Code to add at end as follows: 

R322.1 Scope.  (Beginning of section left unchanged) …shall apply.  Single family and attached single family homes shall follow Section R322.2.

Add new Section R322.2 ‘Step-free entrances’ to the 2006 International Residential Code as follows:

Every single family dwelling and attached single family dwelling shall be provided with at least one (1) step free entrance, accessible from an accessible route from a parking area or public way. This step-free entrance shall be approached by a slope, no greater than 1 in 12 (less steep is desirable). This entrance can be approached by a sidewalk, a driveway, a garage floor, or other useable route. The step free entrance may be located at any entrance to the home. If the step free entrance is located in the garage, a doorbell button shall be located outside the overhead garage door. In a case where a lot is so steep that it cannot be graded to a maximum slope of 1 in 12, the driveway may have to exceed a 1 in 12 slope. In this case, upon approval by the Building Commissioner, the builder may construct a 1 in 12 (or less) route leading from the driveway to the no-step entrance.

             EXCEPTION: If a no step entrance is located at a level other than the level closest to grade, such as the lower level of a split level home, and a washroom or powder room that complies with the requirements of this Code is located on the same level as the no step entrance, a first floor washroom/powder room shall not be required.

             In addition, the Director of Administration may waive any of the aforesaid entrance requirements if, within his discretion, he determines that such entrance is not feasible based on water table elevations. 

ELECTRICAL WALL SWITCHES.  Revise Section 404.8 ‘Accessibility and Grouping: Location’ of the 2005 National Electrical Code as follows:

All switches and circuit breakers used as switches shall be located so that they may be operated from a readily accessible place.  They shall be installed such that the center of the grip or the operating handle of the switch or circuit breaker, when in its highest position is not more than forty eight (48) inches above the floor. Height shall be determined by measuring from the finished floor to the center of the switch.

             EXCEPTIONS: This requirement does not apply where the use of special equipment dictates otherwise as required by the manufacturer. This requirement does not apply to thermostats or breaker panels.

WALL REINFORCEMENT.  Add new Section R307.1.1 ‘Wall reinforcement’ to the 2006 International Residential Code as follows:

R307.1.1 Wall reinforcement:  Bathroom walls shall be provided with wood blocking installed flush within wall framing, to support grab bars as needed. The wood blocking, when measured to the center, shall be located between thirty three (33) inches and thirty six (36) inches above the finished floor. The wood blocking shall be located in all walls adjacent to a toilet, shower stall or bathtub. All bathrooms, washrooms and powder rooms shall meet all applicable requirements of this Code.

FIRST FLOOR BATHROOM/POWDER ROOM.  There shall be at least one bathroom/powder room, containing at least one toilet and one sink, on the dwelling floor located closest to grade level. This bathroom/powder room shall be designed and constructed n a manner that will provide wheelchair access to both the water closet and lavatory.

BATHROOM DESIGN.  Delete Section R307.1 ‘Space required’ from the 2006 International Residential Code and substitute the following:

R307.1 Space required.  All bathrooms and powder rooms shall meet all applicable requirements of this Code. It is not essential (although it is recommended) to have a large turning radius inside a residential bathroom or powder room. In a small bathroom or powder room, the wheelchair user can roll in forward and roll out backward. A minimum thirty two (32) inch clear path must be provided to all fixtures and the room must be designed in a manner that will allow the user to be able to shut the door when using the room. The bathroom, washroom or powder room door may be hinged to swing out to provide more room, if the hallway design provides the proper clearances.

DOORS.  Delete Section R311.4.2 ‘Door type and size’ from the 2006 International Residential Code and substitute the following:

 R311.4.2 Door type and size.  All exterior and interior doors shall not be less than three (3) feet in width and six (6) feet eight (8) inches in height, and shall provide a minimum clear opening of thirty two (32) inches. All required exit doors shall be side hinged.             

EXCEPTIONS: Sliding doors, providing that a minimum thirty two (32) inch clear opening is maintained. Interior pocket doors, providing that a minimum thirty two (32) inch clear opening is maintained. Interior doors that do not require passage for  access as determined by the code official, for example, doors to linen closets and pantries in which the shelves are located immediately inside the door opening. Any interior door located in a manner that when fully open, a minimum thirty two (32) inch clear opening is provided.

HALLWAYS.  Revise Section R311.3 ‘Hallways’ of the 2006 International Residential Code to read as follows:

R311.3 Hallways.  The minimum width of a hallway or exit access shall be not less than forty two (42) inches.

ROUTES WITHIN A DWELLING UNIT. Every single family and attached single family dwelling shall have an accessible route through the hallways and passageways of the floor level served by the step free entrance. Hallways shall not be less than forty two (42) inches in width. All other passageways, other than doorways, shall not be less than thirty six (36) inches in width.

This Ordinance supersedes all policies, resolutions, ordinances or parts thereof adopted prior hereto which are in conflict herewith, the extent of such conflict.