Sidewalk Slope

minimum slope consistent with roadway

2% maximum cross slope (“level”), including driveways In many hilly cities--Seattle, Pittsburgh, San Francisco--handrail segments have been provided along steeply sloping sidewalks where building facades permit.

In response to advocacy from residents with disabilities, the Sacramento County, CA Board of Supervisors has adopted a policy that limits the distance that a sidewalk may depart from the horizontal or vertical alignment of the adjacent roadway.

“A public entity must reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures to avoid discrimination... ILLUSTRATION: A municipal zoning ordinance requires a set-back of 12 feet from the curb in a central business district. In order to install a ramp to the front entrance of a pharmacy, the owner must encroach on the set-back by three feet. Granting a variance in the zoning requirement may be a reasonable modification of town policy.”
--DOJ Title II Technical Assistance Manual