11B-217 Telephones — 2025 California Building Code
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) § 11B-217 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
11B- 217.1 General. Where coin-operated public pay telephones, coinless public pay telephones, public closed-circuit telephones, public courtesy phones, or other types of public telephones are provided, public telephones shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B- 217 for each type of public telephone provided. For purposes of this section, a bank of telephones shall be considered to be two or more adjacent telephones.
11B- 217.2 Wheelchair accessible telephones. Where public telephones are provided, wheelchair accessible telephones complying with Section 11B- 704.2 shall be provided in accordance with Table 11B- 217.2.
Exception: Drive-up only public telephones shall not be required to comply with Section 11B- 217.2.
11B-22 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC HOUSING
TABLE 11B-217.2—WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TELEPHONES
| NUMBER OF TELEPHONES PROVIDED ON A FLOOR, LEVEL OR EXTERIOR SITE |
MINIMUM NUMBER OF REQUIRED WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TELEPHONES |
|---|---|
| 1 or more single units | _At least 50 percent of telephone units, but not less than_1 per floor, level and exterior site |
| 1 bank | _At least 50 percent of telephone units per bank, but not less than_1 per floor, level and exterior site |
| 2 or more banks | _At least 50 percent of telephone units per bank, but not less than_1 per bank At least 1 telephone per floor shall meet the requirements for a forward reach telephone. |
11B- 217.3 Volume controls. All public telephones shall have volume controls complying with Section 11B- 704.3.
11B- 217.4 TTYs. TTYs complying with Section 11B- 704.4 shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B- 217.4.
11B- 217.4.1 Bank requirement. Where four or more public pay telephones are provided at a bank of telephones, at least one public TTY complying with Section 11B- 704.4 shall be provided at that bank.
Exception: Reserved.
11B- 217.4.2 Floor requirement. TTYs in public buildings shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B- 217.4.2.1. TTYs in private buildings shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B- 217.4.2.2.
11B- 217.4.2.1 Public buildings. Where at least one public pay telephone is provided on a floor of a public building, at least one public TTY shall be provided on that floor.
11B- 217.4.2.2 Private buildings. Where four or more public pay telephones are provided on a floor of a private building, at least one public TTY shall be provided on that floor.
11B- 217.4.3 Building requirement. TTYs in public buildings shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B- 217.4.3.1. TTYs in private buildings shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B- 217.4.3.2.
11B- 217.4.3.1 Public buildings. Where at least one public pay telephone is provided in a public building, at least one public TTY shall be provided in the building. Where at least one public pay telephone is provided in a public use area of a public building, at least one public TTY shall be provided in the public building in a public use area.
11B- 217.4.3.2 Private buildings. Where four or more public pay telephones are provided in a private building, at least one public TTY shall be provided in the building.
Exception: In a stadium or arena, in a convention center, in a hotel with a convention center or in a covered mall, if an interior public pay telephone is provided at least one interior public TTY shall be provided in the facility.
11B- 217.4.4 Exterior site requirement. Where four or more public pay telephones are provided on an exterior site, at least one public TTY shall be provided on the site.
11B- 217.4.5 Rest stops, emergency roadside stops and service plazas. Where at least one public pay telephone is provided at a public rest stop, emergency roadside stop or service plaza, at least one public TTY shall be provided.
11B- 217.4.6 Hospitals. Where at least one public pay telephone is provided serving a hospital emergency room, hospital recovery room or hospital waiting room, at least one public TTY shall be provided at each location.
11B- 217.4.7 Transportation facilities. In transportation facilities, in addition to the requirements of Sections 11B- 217.4.1 through 11B- 217.4.4, where at least one public pay telephone serves a particular entrance to a bus or rail facility, at least one public TTY shall be provided to serve that entrance. In airports, in addition to the requirements of Sections 11B- 217.4.1 through 11B- 217.4.4, where four or more public pay telephones are located in a terminal outside the security areas, a concourse within the security areas or a baggage claim area in a terminal, at least one public TTY shall be provided in each location.
11B- 217.4.8 Detention and correctional facilities. In detention and correctional facilities, where at least one pay telephone is provided in a secured area used only by detainees or inmates and security personnel, at least one TTY shall be provided in at least one secured area.
11B- 217.5 Shelves for portable TTYs. Where a bank of telephones in the interior of a building consists of three or more public pay telephones, at least one public pay telephone at the bank shall be provided with a shelf and an electrical outlet in accordance with Section 11B- 704.5.
Exceptions:
Secured areas of detention and correctional facilities where shelves and outlets are prohibited for purposes of security or safety shall not be required to comply with Section 11B- 217.5.
The shelf and electrical outlet shall not be required at a bank of telephones with a TTY.
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