Module 05 of 07
ADA compliance for physical locations
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires places of public accommodation — which includes virtually every retail store, restaurant, and service business — to be accessible to people with disabilities. ADA compliance isn't optional, and "we're a small business" isn't an exemption. What it means in practice for an existing building is more nuanced than most people think.
Who the ADA applies to
Title III of the ADA covers "places of public accommodation" — businesses that are open to the public. This includes retail stores, restaurants and food service, service businesses (salons, gyms, clinics), entertainment venues, hotels, and market vendor spaces at permanent markets. There is no employee-count threshold. Even a one-person business in a public-facing space must comply.
New vs. existing buildings
New construction (built after January 26, 1993) must be fully ADA compliant. Existing older buildings must make modifications that are "readily achievable" — meaning feasible without significant difficulty or expense. This doesn't mean you can do nothing: you must remove barriers when it's reasonable to do so. The key word is "readily achievable," not "cheap" or "optional."
In this Module
Who the ADA applies to
ADA self-assessment checklist
The readily achievable standard
Real-world example
Related Modules
Business insurance
Licenses & permits
ADA self-assessment checklist
Use this checklist to identify barriers in your space. Check off items that are already compliant. Items you haven't checked represent potential violations.
Entrance doorway is at least 32 inches wide when open (36 inches recommended)
Entrance is accessible without steps, or a ramp is available with no more than 1:12 slope
Door hardware doesn't require tight grasping or twisting (lever handles, not round knobs)
Main aisles are at least 36 inches wide; turning spaces are at least 60 inches in diameter
Sales counter or service area has a lowered section at 36 inches high (or equivalent service is available)
Restroom (if public) has accessible stall with grab bars and correct turning radius
Accessible parking space available (if you control a parking lot) — 1 accessible space per 25 regular spaces
Accessible path from parking/street to entrance is level and unobstructed
Signage uses high-contrast colors and raised lettering for permanent room labels
Staff are trained to assist customers with disabilities when asked
The “readily achieveable” standard in practice
Courts and the DOJ consider four factors when determining whether a modification is readily achievable: the cost of the action, the overall financial resources of the business, the type of operation, and the impact on operations. A large chain retailer has a higher bar than a single-location boutique.
Examples of modifications generally considered readily achievable: installing lever door handles (replaces round knobs), rearranging furniture to widen aisles, adding a portable ramp to a single step, lowering a section of the sales counter, adding braille or raised-letter room signage.
Examples that may NOT be readily achievable for a small business: installing a full elevator, reconfiguring structural walls to widen doorways, rebuilding a restroom from scratch in a historic building.
Not being fully compliant doesn't mean you're off the hook
Even if full compliance is not readily achievable, you must do what is. A business that has done nothing — no ramp evaluation, no aisle adjustments, no counter lowering — is in a much worse legal position than one that has addressed every readily achievable item and documented the effort. Documentation of your compliance assessment matters.
Real-world example
Kevin's bookstore had a single 3-inch step at the entrance. He was sued under the ADA. Because a portable threshold ramp was available for under $200 and he hadn't installed one, the court found the barrier removal was readily achievable. He paid $4,500 in plaintiff's attorney fees plus purchased and installed the ramp. Had he installed the ramp from day one, he would have spent $200 and had no exposure.