Is Your Shop ADA Compliant?

What if My Shop is in an Older Building?

When the government revised the ADA’s accessibility laws to create the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, it set minimum access requirements for new buildings. These codes also extend to older buildings. No buildings are “grandfathered” in. That’s because the ADA is a civil rights law, not a set of building codes. Landlords leasing buildings and tenants renting space must both comply with the 2010 law.

In a Small Biz Trends article, writer Paul Chaney addresses the expenses and complications of modifying existing buildings to meet ADA standards.

“You must remove physical ‘barriers’ that are ‘readily achievable,’ which means easy to accomplish without much difficulty or expense,” Chaney wrote. “The ‘readily achievable’ requirement is based on the size and resources of the business. Larger businesses with more resources are expected to take a more active role in removing barriers than small businesses. The ADA also recognizes that economic conditions vary. When a business has resources to remove barriers, it is expected to do so, but when profits are down, the business may reduce or delay barrier removal.”

If you’re a small business struggling to pay for updates to your shop, financial help is available. According to the ADA, Internal Revenue Service codes can help small businesses comply with ADA regulations through a Disabled Access Credit. That program is available to businesses with 30 or fewer full-time employees or total revenues of $1 million or less the previous tax year. Eligible expenses can include the cost of removing barriers and making alterations to improve accessibility, providing sign-language interpreters, or making information available through Braille, audiotape or large print.

What Updates Must I Make?

The ADA outlines four priorities for businesses to make buildings easily accessible and comfortable for people with disabilities.

Priority 1 - Accessible approach and entrance.

Priority 2 - Access to goods and services.

Priority 3 - Access to public toilet rooms.

Priority 4 - Access to other items, such as water fountains and public telephones.

To meet some basic ADA requirements, your store should have:

• Handicapped parking;
• Accessible routes to an accessible entrance;
• Curb ramp;
• An entrance at least 36 inches wide,
• Doors open easily (5 pounds maximum force);
• Grab bar along the toilet;
• Lower counter and clear floor space.

The ADA provides small businesses a detailed checklist for how to update existing buildings to meet ADA standards.