ADA Requirements for Multifamily Cabinets: What You Need to Know

• Cabinets

• Countertops

• Appliances (sink, stove, refrigerator, etc.)

• Storage areas

The goal is to ensure people using wheelchairs or with limited mobility can operate and use these features without assistance. CP’s sales & design team can help guide your team through these requirements.

Forward Reach (Unobstructed):

• High forward reach: Maximum of 48 inches above the floor.
• Low forward reach: Minimum 15 inches above the floor.

Side Reach (Unobstructed):

• Same as forward: fifteen” minimum to 48” maximum.

Obstructed Reach:

• If a person must reach over an obstruction (like a countertop), the maximum reach height is 44 inches.
• The maximum reach depth over the obstruction must not exceed 24 inches.

Implication for cabinets:

• Wall cabinets above a countertop should have the bottom shelf no higher than 48 inches off the floor (or 44 inches if there is a counter in front).
• Base cabinets must not block access or reduce reach range to sink controls or electrical outlets.

Knee clearance

• 27 inches high (minimum)
• 30 inches wide (minimum)
• 19 inches deep (minimum)

Toe clearance

• 9 inches high
• 6 inches deep

If the cabinet contains a sink or work surface, additional ADA requirements apply:

• The counter must be 34 inches maximum from the finished floor.
• The sink should be shallow (about 6.5 inches deep recommended) to provide knee clearance.
• Pipes and surfaces underneath must be insulated or protected to prevent burns or injuries.

Cabinets below the sink must either be:

• Completely open with no doors, or
• Have removable doors and a finished floor and interior so the space can function as accessible if needed.

Cabinet doors and drawers must be usable without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. That means:

• Use D-shaped pulls, lever handles, or touch-release mechanisms.
• Avoid knobs or handles that require finger dexterity or strong grip strength.
• Operable parts must be located within the ADA reach ranges (15–48 inches from floor).

ADA guidelines require accessible storage space in kitchens. This means:

• At least one cabinet, pantry, or set of shelves must be located within reach ranges (15–48 inches above the floor).
• Storage units should be easy to open and allow items to be retrieved with one hand and minimal effort.

Innovative storage solutions help meet these standards:

• Pull-down shelves in upper cabinets
• Pull-out shelves or drawers in base cabinets
• Lazy Susans or rotating shelves for corner cabinets

The kitchen must provide clear floor space to allow a wheelchair user to approach and use cabinets and appliances.

• A clear turning circle of sixty inches in diameter (or a T-shaped turning space) must be available in the kitchen.
• 30 by 48 inches of clear floor space is required at each accessible appliance or cabinet.

This means careful planning of cabinet layouts is required to avoid blocking pathways or reducing maneuvering space. Learn more about clear floor space from CP Build’s team members.

The ADA applies to:

• Public buildings
• Commercial spaces
• Multi-family housing (e.g., apartment common areas)

Single-family homes typically are not required to follow ADA unless federally funded or specified under other accessibility codes. However, Universal Design principles often adopt ADA standards to increase usability for all residents, especially aging populations.

In multifamily residential housing covered by HUD’s Fair Housing Act, base cabinets under sinks or cooktops can be installed with the option to be removed later for accessibility. These are called adaptable units.

Requirements:

• A removable cabinet must have a finished floor and wall surface behind it.
• It must not block plumbing rough ins needed for a future accessible sink installation.

This approach is ideal for housing units where residents may have changing mobility needs over time. Learn more about HUD’s Fair Housing Act & federal guidelines by contacting a CP sales representative today.

To ensure your kitchen is ADA-compliant:

• Review the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
• Consider ANSI A117.1 standards, which are commonly referenced in local building codes.
• Hire an accessibility consultant or licensed architect familiar with ADA compliance.
• Inspections may be required for public or federally funded buildings.