Outdoor Developed Areas: A Summary of Accessibility Standards for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas

Using the ORAR Exceptions [F202.3, Exception 4 and 1016, Exceptions 1, 2, and 3]

Where elements or spaces in camping and picnic facilities, viewing areas, or trailheads are altered but the circulation path to the altered element or space is not changed, the circulation path is not required to comply with the technical requirements for ORARs.

In alteration projects, if a condition for exception does not permit full compliance with a specific provision in the technical requirements for ORARs on a portion of an ORAR, then that portion of the ORAR must comply with the specific provision to the extent practicable. The conditions for exceptions can be used for newly constructed ORARs at viewing areas. Additional information on the conditions for exceptions is provided in the section of this guide on the conditions for exceptions. Although not required, documenting use of the conditions for exceptions on a portion of an ORAR and retaining the documentation with the project records can be helpful if a complaint is filed with the Access Board alleging that the ORAR does not comply with the technical requirements.

If a roadway is the common circulation path for pedestrians within camping and picnic facilities or at viewing areas and trailheads, an ORAR may be provided within the roadway. When an ORAR is provided within the roadway, it is exempted from the technical requirements for cross slope, running grade, resting intervals, and passing spaces. The other technical requirements apply to ORARs provided within the roadway. For instance, where traffic calming devices, gates, or other barriers are provided on a paved roadway, the ORAR must have a clear width of 36 inches and obstacles cannot exceed one-half inch in height at their highest point within the clear width of the ORAR.