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