Who Is Responsible ?

ADA Compliance

Who Is Responsible for ADA Compliance?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) places responsibility for compliance on a wide range of entities. Whether you own a small shop, manage a commercial property, or operate a public program, you may be legally required to ensure accessibility.

Businesses and Employers

Any business with 15 or more employees must comply with ADA regulations.

Both landlords and tenants share responsibility for ADA compliance. While lease agreements can outline who handles specific obligations, both parties remain legally accountable.

State and Local Governments

State and local government services, programs, and activities must comply with ADA standards, including:

    • Public education and social services

    • State legislatures and courts

    • Town meetings

    • Police and fire departments

    • Employment services

    • Public transportation

Commercial Facilities and Public-Facing Businesses

The ADA applies to all commercial facilities, regardless of size, including:

  • Stores and shops

  • Restaurants and bars

  • Theaters, hotels, and recreation facilities

  • Private museums and schools

  • Doctor’s offices, health spas, and convention centers

Any business serving the public must remove physical barriers when it is “readily achievable”—meaning it can be done without excessive difficulty or expense. Larger companies are expected to make more extensive accommodations, while smaller businesses may implement changes gradually.

12 Categories of Public Accommodations

According to the ADA, nearly all private businesses that serve the public fall into one of these 12 categories:

Stores and shops

Restaurants and bars

Service establishments

Theaters

Hotels and lodging facilities

Private museums

Schools and educational institutions

Businesses and professional offices

Sales or rental establishments

Transportation terminals, depots, or stations

Recreation facilities

Places of public gathering

OUR TESTIMONIAL

What Our Client's Say

ADA Compliance Network made the entire process stress-free. Their team handled our site inspection and gave us a clear action plan that saved us time and money.

Michael R

Retail Store Owner

We thought ADA compliance would be complicated, but they made it simple. Their website audit helped us avoid a potential lawsuit and improve our customer experience.

Sandra L

E-Commerce Manager

Professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. They guided us through construction compliance from planning to completion, and everything passed inspection on the first try

David P

Property Developer