ADA Compliance
Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility inspection and compliance permits.
What a ADA Compliance Covers
The Americans with Disabilities Act sets accessibility requirements for places of public accommodation and commercial facilities. Two things about it consistently catch owners out. First, ADA obligations can apply to a building even when no work is planned, because barrier removal in existing facilities is an ongoing duty rather than a one-time construction requirement. Second, when you do alter a space, the alteration usually triggers accessibility upgrades to the path of travel serving it, which is a larger scope than the alteration itself.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility inspection and compliance permits. Our licensed engineers conduct comprehensive reviews to ensure your property meets current ADA standards.
When You Need One
- Altering or renovating a space open to the public, which typically triggers path-of-travel requirements
- A change of use or occupancy in an existing commercial building
- A demand letter, complaint, or lawsuit alleging an accessibility barrier
- Due diligence before buying or leasing a commercial property
- Restrooms, entrances, parking, or routes that were built to an older standard
- A tenant fit-out in a building whose common areas have not been assessed
What PermitCare Handles
- An accessibility survey of the existing facility by our licensed professionals
- A written findings report identifying barriers and the standard each one falls short of
- A prioritized remediation plan, which matters because barrier removal is judged on readily achievable steps
- Drawings for the corrective work, sealed as required
- Permit applications for the remediation scope
- Coordination with the building department, since accessibility review runs alongside normal plan review
Documents Usually Required
Exact requirements are set by the jurisdiction you file in. This is the package most submissions are built from.
- Existing floor plans, or as-built drawings if none exist
- A site plan covering parking, exterior routes, and entrances
- The building's occupancy classification and use
- Prior accessibility reports or remediation records, if any
- Any complaint or demand letter received
Common Questions
Does ADA apply to my building if I am not doing any construction?
It can. For existing places of public accommodation, removing barriers is an ongoing obligation where doing so is readily achievable, rather than something triggered only by construction. Construction is what triggers the stricter alteration standards, but it is not what creates the duty in the first place.
What is a path of travel requirement?
When you alter an area containing a primary function, the accessible route serving that area, along with the restrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving it, generally has to be made accessible as well. Owners are frequently surprised that a modest interior alteration pulls in an entrance, a corridor, and a restroom.
Is an ADA inspection the same as a building inspection?
No. A building inspection checks work against the permit and the building code. An accessibility survey evaluates the facility against the ADA standards, including conditions that were legal when built but no longer meet current requirements. A building can pass inspection and still have accessibility barriers.
I received an ADA demand letter. What should I do first?
Get the facility surveyed by a qualified professional so you know what is actually non-compliant, rather than responding based on what the letter alleges. A documented survey and a dated remediation plan are the record you will want, whatever route the matter takes from there. Talk to your attorney too; we do the technical assessment, not the legal advice.
ADA Compliance by Jurisdiction
Fees, portals, and review timelines differ by county. These pages cover the specifics where we work most.
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Free consultation, no obligation. We serve Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.