For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
Accessible route
means a continuous and unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces in a building or within a site that can be negotiated by a person with a disability using a wheelchair, and that is also safe for and usable by persons with other mobility impairments.
Bathroom
means a room which includes a water closet (toilet), lavatory (sink), and a bathtub and/or a shower. It does not include single-fixture facilities or those with only a water closet and lavatory. It does include a compartmented bathroom. A compartmented bathroom is one in which the fixtures are distributed among interconnected rooms. A compartmented bathroom is considered a single unit and is subject to the requirements of this chapter.
Carriage unit
means a dwelling unit with living space on one or more floors immediately above a private garage or garages. The footprint of the garage or garages is used as the footprint for the remaining floor or floors of the units above and the garage level contains no habitable space. Note: Dwelling units located over a common garage shall not be considered carriage units.
Common room
means a room that is typically used by all occupants such as a living room, dining room, den or other similar rooms.
Core area
means the land area defined by the boundaries used on the map for the City of Davis Core Area Specific Plan.
Dwelling unit/unit/housing unit
means a single unit of residence for a household or one or more persons.
Ground floor
means the floor of a building with a building entrance on an accessible route that includes a low or zero threshold entry. A unit may have one or more ground floors.
Newly constructed
means a building that has never before been used or occupied for any purpose.
Path of travel
means a passage that may consist of walks, sidewalks and other improved areas or a necessary combination thereof, which provides free and unobstructed access to and egress from a particular area or location for pedestrians and/or wheelchair users. A "path of travel" includes a continuous, unobstructed way of pedestrian passage by means of which a particular area may be approached, entered and exited, and which connects a particular area with an exterior approach, an entrance to the dwelling, and other parts of the dwelling.
Powder room/half-bath
means a room containing only a water closet (toilet) and lavatory (sink).
Slope
means the relative steepness of the land between two points and is calculated based on the horizontal distance and elevation change between the two points. The difference in elevation is divided by the distance and the resulting fraction is multiplied by one hundred to obtain the percentage.
Three-quarters bath
means a room containing a water closet (toilet), shower, and lavatory (sink).
Universal access
means the city-adopted standards required in the development of new single-family units that are being included to enhance a unit's overall accessibility, promote aging in place, and support the principles of universal design for the unit's owners, renters, and visitors alike.
Words and phrases not otherwise defined in this article shall be interpreted based on the definitions found within Chapter 8, Buildings, of the City Municipal Code.
(Ord. 2450A § 2, 2015)
All new housing units deemed subject to the requirements of this article shall, at minimum, include the following components of accessibility in the development of said units:
(a) 
Low threshold entry. One low threshold entry at either the front door or from the garage to the house. The door shall have a minimum thirty-two-inch clear opening, the threshold shall be no higher than one-half inch and comply with the following:
(1) 
Thresholds with a change in height of not more than one-quarter inch (6.35 mm) may be vertical.
(2) 
Thresholds with a change in height between one-quarter inch (6.35 mm) and one-half inch (19.05 mm) shall be beveled with a slope no greater than one unit vertical in two units horizontal (fifty percent slope).
(b) 
Exterior accessible route. Exterior zero-step walkway to low threshold entry at least thirty-six inches wide, without any steps, which is provided from driveway into house or an alternative path. It is not the intention of this article to require a fully accessible route in compliance with state and or federal accessibility regulations from the public right-of-way to the dwelling.
(c) 
Interior accessible route. A no-step interior accessible route on ground floor with interior doorways having at least a thirty-two-inch clear opening and hallways at least thirty-six inches wide throughout.
(d) 
Bathrooms and half bathrooms. One accessible bathroom or three-quarters bath on the floor accessible from the interior and exterior paths of travel. This shall include required installation of a shower and adequate space to allow for future retrofit of the shower into one measuring a minimum of forty-two inches wide by forty-eight inches deep, with an entrance opening of at least thirty-six inches. Adequate space for future renovation could be a closet or other space that would require minimal alteration to retrofit; and all bathrooms, three-quarters bath, and half bath/powder rooms with installation of reinforcement for grab bars within walls. Reinforcement for grab bars shall be installed as follows:
(1) 
Reinforcement for grab bars at the water closet shall be installed on both sides or one side and the back. If reinforcement is installed at the back, it shall be installed between thirty-two inches and thirty-eight inches above the floor. The grab bar reinforcement shall be a minimum of six inches nominal in height. The backing shall be a minimum of forty inches in length. Reinforcement installed at the side of the water closet shall be installed thirty-two inches to thirty-eight inches above the floor. The reinforcement shall be installed a maximum of twelve inches from the rear wall and shall extend a minimum of twenty-six inches in front of the water closet. The grab bar reinforcement shall be a minimum of six inches nominal in height.
(2) 
Reinforcement for grab bars at the bathtub shall be located on each end of the bathtub, thirty-two inches to thirty-eight inches above the floor, extending a minimum of twenty-four inches from the front edge of the bathtub toward the back wall of the bathtub. The grab bar reinforcement shall be a minimum of six inches nominal in height. Grab bar reinforcement shall be installed on the back wall of the bathtub a maximum of six inches above the bathtub rim extending upward to at least thirty-eight inches above the floor. Grab bar backing shall be installed horizontally to permit the installation of a forty-eight-inch grab bar with each end a maximum of six inches from the end walls of the bathtub. The grab bar reinforcement shall be a minimum of six inches nominal in height.
(e) 
Common room. An accessible common room with no steps that is connected to the thirty-six-inch wide interior accessible route.
(f) 
Stairs accommodation. In two or more story units, one or more of the following shall be included:
(1) 
Electrical outlets at stairs to accommodate future stair chairlift installation; or
(2) 
Placement of stacked closets to accommodate future home elevator installation, including adequate dimensions and electrical access.
(g) 
Electrical panel. An accessible electrical panel on the interior of the unit that is accessible from the interior accessible route and is no greater than fifty-four inches above the floor and no lesser than fifteen inches above the floor, as measured from the outer edges of the panel.
(h) 
Switches and fixtures. Use of rocker light switches and single lever door fixtures throughout the unit. Other types of accessible switches and fixtures may be approved by the chief building official.
(Ord. 2450A § 2, 2015)
The applicant proposing the development of housing units deemed subject to this article has the option to appeal infeasible items based on project characteristics, terrain, or due to an alleged taking to the community development director. When there are multiple product types within a development, the community development director will work to ensure that, to the greatest extent feasible, many of the product types will include these accessible features.
(Ord. 2450A § 2, 2015)
Carriage units, second/accessory units, and projects in the core area of fifteen units or fewer shall not be subject to these requirements, but are encouraged to incorporate accessible features voluntarily.
(Ord. 2450A § 2, 2015)