Section 27-292.5. Accessibility

--(a)  Primary  entrance(s).--The  primary
  entrance(s) for buildings shall  be  accessible,  except  for  buildings
  classified  in occupancy group A, J-3 and/or other spaces which normally
  are not frequented by the public or employees of the facility.
    (b) Exterior accessible route.--Except as provided in this subarticle,
  buildings shall be provided with an exterior accessible route to  permit
  entry  at  the  primary  entrance(s)  of the building from the following
  locations:
    (1) Public street or sidewalk
    (2) Driveways
    (3) Parking areas
    (4) Passenger loading zones
    (5) Transportation stops
    (c) Interior accessible route.--Except as provided in this subarticle,
  in buildings having (an)  interior  route(s)  to  one  or  more  of  the
  following  spaces  or  facilities,  such route(s) shall be (an) interior
  accessible route(s) from the entrance(s) usable  by  all  categories  of
  people  having  physical  disabilities  to  adaptable or usable dwelling
  units and other spaces and facilities on the same premises including but
  not limited to:
    (1) Laundry rooms
    (2) Refuse disposal locations
    (3) Mailbox areas
    (4) Recreational, assembly and tenants' meeting rooms
    (5) Storage rooms
    (6) Management offices
    (7) Stores
    (8) Dining areas
    (9) Parking areas
  Where the only route to one or more of such spaces or facilities  is  an
  exterior route, such route shall be accessible.
    (d)  Path  of  travel.--The  path  of  travel in exterior and interior
  accessible routes shall provide unobstructed safe access and  applicable
  items  in  such  path  of  travel shall comply with the requirements set
  forth in reference standard RS 4-6.
    (e)  Elevators.--Where  provided,  all  elevators  shall  comply  with
  subchapter  eighteen,  reference  standard  RS  18-1,  where an interior
  accessible route is required.
    (f) Assembly occupancies.--For assembly occupancies having a mezzanine
  or balcony which provides a similar view as that from  the  main  floor,
  accessibility to the mezzanine or balcony shall not be required provided
  toilet rooms are on the main floor.
    (g) Restaurants--For restaurants, dining rooms and similar occupancies
  having   the  same  services  on  levels  other  than  the  main  floor,
  accessibility to such levels shall not be required provided that  toilet
  rooms are on the main floor.
    (h)  Storage.--For  buildings in which the intended use is the storage
  of goods or merchandise, the only requirement shall be accessibility  at
  the  primary  entrance and an interior accessible route to offices where
  business may be conducted.
    (i)  Non-grade  stories  of  small   non-residential   buildings.--The
  following non-residential buildings or parts thereof are exempt from the
  provisions  of this subarticle concerning requirements for people having
  physical disabilities, to the extent set forth in subdivisions  (1)  and
  (2) of this subsection:
    (1)  construction  of such new buildings the total floor area of which
  is two thousand five hundred square feet or less;

    (2)  alterations  to  such  building  already   existing   where   the
  alterations  are being made to an above-grade story having a total floor
  area of  two  thousand  five  hundred  square  feet  or  less  or  to  a
  below-grade  story having a total floor area of two thousand square feet
  or less.
    Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  floor areas frequented by the public
  for assembly, governmental, public utility or health  facility  purposes
  shall not be exempted unless equivalent functional accessible facilities
  are provided on the first story.
    (j) Where the floor area is more than two thousand five hundred square
  feet but less than five thousand square feet, a vertical wheelchair lift
  enclosed  in construction having the required fire-resistance rating and
  connecting not more than two contiguous levels is permitted in  lieu  of
  an accessible route as set forth in reference standard RS 4-6.
    (k)  Where  the  below-grade  cumulative  floor  area is more than two
  thousand square feet but not more than  five  thousand  square  feet,  a
  vertical  wheelchair  lift  enclosed in construction having the required
  fire-resistance rating and  connecting  not  more  than  two  contiguous
  levels  is  permitted  in  lieu  of  an accessible route as set forth in
  reference standard RS 4-6.