TL;DR
- The CEV sets the slope by ramp length: up to 1.50 m, 12.5%; over 1.50 and up to 3.00 m, 10%; over 3.00 and up to 6.00 m, 8%; over 6.00 m, 6%. The ramp itself may not exceed 9.00 m (CEV 902.4.2 and 902.4.4).
- A 0.40 m step needs about 5.00 m of ramp at 8%. A 0.50 m step needs about 8.33 m at 6%, with a landing, and a 0.60 m rise does not fit in a single 9.00 m ramp.
- Minimum width is 95 cm, landings are at least 1.50 m long and come at most every 6.00 m, and each end has a 1.50 × 1.50 m turning area.
- The CEV is a voluntary model, not a national rule: your municipality's building rules and the person who will use the ramp decide the final design.
If you own a home in Mexico and someone in the family uses a wheelchair, the entrance is usually the first thing to plan. The good news is that the geometry is simple and the numbers are published: the Código de Edificación de Vivienda (CEV 2017), the housing code the federal housing commission CONAVI publishes as a model for municipalities, sets slopes, widths and landings for access ramps. This page works them out with the sources opened on October 12, 2026, and adds a price reference from the Mexico City public-works price list. If you are still deciding between building and buying, building a house in Mexico as a foreigner covers that choice; this guide is for a home you already own.
If you are comparing homes before buying, include the entrance work alongside the cost of buying a house in Mexico.
What the CEV asks of an access ramp
Section 902.4 of the CEV is about access ramps for housing. It asks for a minimum width of 95 cm (902.4.1), a maximum length of 9.00 m with no more than 6.00 m between landings (902.4.2), a non-slip finish with ridges across the direction of the wheels, no deeper than 5 mm (902.4.5), and a curb of at least 10 cm and a guardrail with a double handrail on any side that has no wall (902.4.8 and 902.4.9). At the start and end of the ramp it asks for a 1.50 × 1.50 m area where a wheelchair can turn 360° (902.4.12), and landings at least 1.50 m long (902.4.13).
| Item | CEV reference | What to ask your builder |
|---|---|---|
| Clear width | At least 95 cm (902.4.1) | A drawing that shows the width between curbs or walls |
| Ramp length | Up to 9.00 m; landings at most every 6.00 m (902.4.2) | Where each landing sits |
| Landings | At least 1.50 m long (902.4.13) | Landing length and a 2% drainage slope |
| Turning areas | 1.50 × 1.50 m at the start and the end (902.4.12) | Space in front of the door and at the street or patio |
| Edges | 10 cm curb and double-handrail guardrail where there is no wall (902.4.8, 902.4.9) | Curb and handrail in the quote |
| Surface | Non-slip, ridges up to 5 mm deep (902.4.5) | Finish that works wet and dry |
Source: CONAVI, Código de Edificación de Vivienda (CEV), 3rd edition 2017, sections 902.4.1 to 902.4.14; a voluntary model code any municipality may adopt (siesco.conavi.gob.mx, accessed October 12, 2026).
How much space a ramp needs
The CEV's table 902.4.4 gives the maximum slope according to the total length of the ramp, landings included: up to 1.50 m, 12.5%; over 1.50 m and up to 3.00 m, 10%; over 3.00 m and up to 6.00 m, 8%; over 6.00 m, 6%. Slope is rise divided by run, so the run is the rise divided by the slope. Because the bracket depends on the length you end up with, you try the steepest one that fits. Here it is for five common step heights:
| Height difference | Slope from the CEV bracket | Horizontal run needed |
|---|---|---|
| 0.15 m | 12.5% | 1.20 m |
| 0.30 m | 10.0% | 3.00 m |
| 0.40 m | 8.0% | 5.00 m |
| 0.50 m | 6.0% | 8.33 m |
| 0.60 m | 6.0% (needs over 9.00 m) | Over the 9.00 m limit |
Source: own calculation with table 902.4.4 and section 902.4.2 of the CONAVI, Código de Edificación de Vivienda (CEV), 3rd edition 2017, sections 902.4.1 to 902.4.14; a voluntary model code any municipality may adopt (siesco.conavi.gob.mx, accessed October 12, 2026). Run = rise ÷ slope; the 0.50 m and 0.60 m rows fall in the 6% bracket because their runs pass 6.00 m.
Two things stand out. A 0.40 m step needs 5.00 m of ramp at 8%, and one centimeter more of rise can push the ramp into the next bracket and make it longer than you would guess. And the longest single ramp the CEV allows, 9.00 m at 6%, rises 0.54 m: anything higher is a different design problem, not a longer ramp. Measure the actual height from the finished floor inside to the finished ground outside before you plan.
Landings, turns and the space in front of the door
Because a ramp over 6.00 m needs a landing at least every 6.00 m, the 8.33 m ramp for a 0.50 m rise has at least one landing of 1.50 m inside its length. That landing, and the 1.50 × 1.50 m turning areas at each end, are often what decide whether a ramp fits along a wall or needs to turn. A curved ramp needs a minimum width of 1.50 m and a radius of 1.50 m (902.4.11), so many homes use a straight ramp along the front or side of the house, or an L-shape with a landing at the corner.
What to budget in Mexico
The Mexico City price list has one entry that matches this kind of work: a ramp piece for people with disabilities, 1.20 m wide, 2.0 m long and 8 cm thick, that includes the cutting, demolition, surface preparation and the concrete.
| Item and key in the price list | Unit | Reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Access ramp, 1.20 m × 2.0 m × 8 cm, with cutting, demolition, surface preparation and f'c = 150 kg/cm² concrete (GH13BM) | piece | $1,877.40 MXN |
Source: Mexico City Government, Tabulador general de precios unitarios, 2026 edition, July 2026 cost adjustment (public-works prices, 27.51% indirect costs; not a quote) (obras.cdmx.gob.mx, accessed October 12, 2026).
Do not multiply that piece by the length of your ramp. It describes one specific piece, and a ramp for a 0.40 m step is 5.00 m long, with its own landings, curb, handrail and finish. Use it as a sense of scale, then ask for a design and a quote by item: demolition and cutting, base and concrete, non-slip finish, curb and handrails, landings and drainage. These are public-works prices from Mexico City: a reference for organizing your quote, not a national price.
For an existing home, keep this one-time project separate from the annual costs of owning property in Mexico.
Before you remodel: what to verify locally
The CEV is a voluntary model code: the CONAVI publishes it so that any municipality can adopt it, so it is a reference rather than a national rule. In Mexico City, article 80 of the building regulations sends accessibility for people with disabilities, and the dimensions of rooms, to its technical standards. Elsewhere, ask the municipal works office what applies to a ramp at the front of your lot. And talk to the person who will use the ramp: slopes, surfaces and handrail heights work best when they fit the person, not only the table.
If the accessible entrance is part of a move for retirement, our guide to Mexican residency visas for retirees covers the residency side of that move.
Financing the remodel
Tanda Casa, a brand of Planea Tu Bien, S.A. de C.V. (since 2009), finances the purchase, construction and remodeling of properties with a deed, from $300,000 to $15,000,000 MXN over 180 months, with no credit bureau check and no proof of income. It is regulated by PROFECO. A ramp alone may come in under $300,000, in which case you may not need financing at all. If it is part of a larger remodel, such as a bathroom or a bedroom on the ground floor, everything is quoted together. These are the starting monthly payments, in pesos:
| Amount of the project | Starting monthly payment, 20% down (Promocional Baja) | Starting monthly payment, no down payment (Tradicional Baja) |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 MXN | $1,529 MXN | $2,569 MXN |
| $500,000 MXN | $2,548 MXN | $4,281 MXN |
| $800,000 MXN | $4,077 MXN | $6,850 MXN |
Source: Tanda Casa estimate with the public formula of its Promocional Baja (20% down) and Tradicional Baja (no down payment) plans: starting monthly payment, including administration, VAT and life insurance; 6.0% annual CAT. An advisor gives you the full plan.
For a broader comparison, read about financing options for foreigners in Mexico. You can also see how Tanda Casa works before entering your project amount.
Your next step
Measure the height from the inside floor to the finished ground outside, pick the row of the table that matches it, and check whether that run fits on your lot. Then put the amount of your project in the plan calculator to see the starting monthly payment in pesos. Tanda Casa is regulated by PROFECO and authorized by the Ministry of Economy.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a wheelchair ramp need to be in Mexico?
It depends on the height. Under the CEV, a 0.15 m step needs about 1.20 m at 12.5%, a 0.30 m step 3.00 m at 10%, a 0.40 m step 5.00 m at 8% and a 0.50 m step about 8.33 m at 6%. The CEV is a voluntary model, so confirm local rules.
How wide should the ramp be?
The CEV (section 902.4.1) asks for a minimum width of 95 cm, plus a 10 cm curb and a guardrail with a double handrail on any side that has no wall.
Do I need landings?
The CEV asks for landings at least 1.50 m long, at most every 6.00 m of ramp, and a 1.50 × 1.50 m turning area at the start and the end. The ramp may not exceed 9.00 m in total.
Is the CEV mandatory in Mexico?
No. CONAVI publishes it as a voluntary model that any municipality may adopt. Ask your municipal works office what applies to your lot, and design with the person who will use the ramp.
Can Tanda Casa finance a remodel with a ramp?
Tanda Casa finances the remodeling of properties with a deed, from $300,000 MXN. A ramp alone may be below that amount; as part of a larger remodel it is quoted together. Start now in the plan calculator to see the starting monthly payment.
Sources
- CONAVI, Código de Edificación de Vivienda (CEV), 3rd edition 2017, sections 902.4.1 to 902.4.14; a voluntary model code any municipality may adopt (siesco.conavi.gob.mx, accessed October 12, 2026).
- Mexico City Government, Tabulador general de precios unitarios, 2026 edition, July 2026 cost adjustment (public-works prices, 27.51% indirect costs; not a quote) (obras.cdmx.gob.mx, accessed October 12, 2026).
- Reglamento de Construcciones para el Distrito Federal (Mexico City building regulations), art. 80 (paot.org.mx, accessed October 12, 2026).
- Tanda Casa: public formula of the Promocional Baja (20% down) and Tradicional Baja (no down payment) plans; 6.0% annual CAT.