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