Accessibility Design Standards & Legislation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating a barrier free city in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). By meeting or exceeding the AODA design standards, the City is improving the accessibility and consistency of our streets and sidewalks. In addition, the City has an Accessibility Design Guidelines which are applied to all City infrastructure to ensure our City is safe and accessible for all users.

The Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines (TADG) include best practices which can be used by all sectors to conduct accessibility audits and to plan for barrier-free development in the physical environment.

Based on the human rights principles of respect, dignity and inclusion, the Guidelines are a key component of the City’s Accessibility Plan.

The Accessibility Guidelines are the result of the collaborative effort among community and professional experts working with City staff and Members of Council.

By January 1, 2016 the City must comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), under Part IV.1 of O.Reg 191/11 on the built environment for all newly constructed or redeveloped infrastructure.

As part of these requirements a number of accessibility improvements are being implemented across the City, including raised profile tactile walking surface indicators are being installed at the bottom edge of curb ramps and depressed curbs.

For further details please consult the AODA Design of Public Spaces Standards (Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment), Part IV.1 of Ontario Regulation 191/11.

Many storefronts in Toronto have one or more steps at the entrance, creating barriers for people using wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, or carts. To address this, City Council has adopted amendments to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, to permit temporary ramps as encroachments within the public right-of-way. These amendments provide clarity on requirements for maintaining pedestrian clearways, cane detectability for persons with visual impairments, and responsibilities for safe ramp placement and maintenance.

Temporary ramp rules support businesses and property owners by explaining how ramps must be placed to improve accessibility while ensuring sidewalks remain safe and accessible for all users.

Rules for Temporary Ramps on City’s Sidewalks

A city sidewalk scene with a temporary green accessibility ramp positioned at the entrance of a storefront. Two white arrows overlaid on the image show the edges of the pedestrian clearway, a direct, unobstructed path between the ramp and the tree line near the curb. The image illustrates how the ramp should be placed to maintain the clearway for pedestrian movement.

  • The placement of the ramp must maintain the required pedestrian clearway of 2.1 meters on arterial roads or a collector road, 1.8 meters on a local road and 2.5 meters on streets identified in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742 (Appendix A)
  • The ramp must have a solid, enclosed base with a continuous surface along the sides of the ramp for a white cane to tap or slide along for wayfinding.
  • The ramp is stable, movable, and has a slip resistant surface with a high color contrast against the surrounding sidewalk and entrance.
  • The ramp does not extend in front of neighboring storefronts and entryways.
  • Must always be brought inside after business hours.

Recommended: Businesses should post a sign or other visible communication to let customers know how to request assistance. In many cases, users of wheeled mobility devices may need assistance to open the building door before ascending the ramp. An option is that the ramp is stored indoors and made available upon request.

Refer to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743 for full requirements. Non-compliance may result in fees and/or removal of the temporary ramp by city authorities at the owner’s cost.

Examples of Non-Compliant Temporary Ramps on City’s Sidewalks

Big black and green ramp with snow - A city sidewalk scene with a temporary ramp installed at a storefront entrance during winter. The ramp is bulky, poorly maintained, covered in snow and ice, and its placement blocks most of the sidewalk. The image illustrates how the ramp creates hazards for pedestrian movement, reducing the clearway and interfering with safe, unobstructed passage

Example of a poorly maintained ramp, covered in snow and ice, with placement that blocks most of the sidewalk.

  • Not well maintained and has snow and ice buildup
  • The placement does not meet the 2.1m clear, unobstructed path as required
  • Appears to be permanently affixed
  • Ramp’s slope is not oriented perpendicular to the step or building entrance
  • Can not be brought inside after business hours
  • Interferes with snow-clearing and other sidewalk maintenance and sightlines.
  • The railing protrudes outward, creating a hazard for pedestrians especially persons with visual impairments
Image with the black ramp - A city sidewalk scene with a damaged, makeshift wooden ramp at a storefront entrance. The ramp is unstable, misaligned with the step, has gaps along its sides, and creates wayfinding challenges. The image illustrates unsafe, non-compliant ramp conditions.

Example of an unstable ramp, misaligned with the step, with side gaps that create wayfinding challenges.

  • The base of the ramp is damaged, making it unstable
  • The top of the ramp is not level with the step landing
  • The base of the ramp is not solid and fully enclosed. The sides have a gap/opening in which the tip of a long, white cane used by a visually-impaired person could be lodged or caught which causes challenges for their wayfinding/navigation along the sidewalk.
  • The ramp in the photo’s background has a solid and enclosed base but does not have a high contrast colour against the sidewalk.

Learn more on tactile walking surface indicators, including their specifications and associated construction standards.

Learn more on Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), how they work and the current inventory of locations.