Disability access requirements and resources
This information is available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.
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State Mandated Disability Access and Education Fund
On September 19, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 1186 which added a state fee on any applicant for a new local business tax certificate or renewal. Beginning January 1, 2013, the fee was $1.00, followed by an increase on January 1, 2018, to $4.00 and a reduction to $1.00 on January 1, 2024. The purpose of the fee is to increase disability access and compliance with construction-related accessibility requirements and to develop educational resources for businesses in order to facilitate compliance with federal and state disability laws.
Notice to applicants for business licenses and commercial building permits
Under federal and state law, compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building owners and tenants with buildings open to the public. You may obtain information about your legal obligations and how to comply with disability access laws at the following agencies:
Department of General Services
Department of Rehabilitation
Certified access specialist inspection services
Compliance with state and federal construction-related accessibility standards ensures that public places are accessible and available to individuals with disabilities. Whether your business is moving into a newly constructed facility or you are planning an alteration to your current facility, by engaging the services of a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) early in this process you will benefit from the advantages of compliance and under the Construction-Related Accessibility Standards Compliance Act (CRASCA, Civil Code 55.51-55.545), also benefit from legal protections.
Although your new facility may have already been permitted and approved by the building department, it is important to obtain CASp inspection services after your move-in because unintended access barriers and violations can be created, for example, placing your furniture and equipment in areas required to be maintained clear of obstructions. For planned alterations, a CASp can provide plan review of your improvement plans and an access compliance evaluation of the public accommodation areas of your facility that may not be part of the alteration.
A CASp is a professional who has been certified by the State of California to have specialized knowledge regarding the applicability of accessibility standards. CASp inspection reports prepared according to CRASCA entitle business and facility owners to specific legal benefits, in the event that a construction-related accessibility claim is filed against them. Find a CASp online.
Government tax credits, tax deductions and financing
State and federal programs to assist businesses with access compliance and access
expenditures are available:
Disabled access credit for eligible small businesses
Federal tax credit — Internal Revenue Code Section 44 provides a federal tax credit for small businesses that incur expenditures for the purpose of providing access to persons with disabilities. For more information, refer to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 8826: Disabled Access Credit at www.irs.gov.
State tax credit — Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 17053.42 and 23642 provide a state tax credit similar to the federal Disabled Access Credit, with exceptions. For more information, refer to Franchise Tax Board (FTB) Form 3548: Disabled Access Credit for Eligible Small Businesses at www.ftb.ca.gov.
Architectural and transportation barrier removal deduction
Federal tax deduction — Internal Revenue Code Section 190 allows businesses of all sizes to claim an annual deduction for qualified expenses incurred to remove physical, structural and transportation barriers for persons with disabilities. For more information, refer to IRS Publication 535: Business Expenses at www.irs.gov.
California Capital Access financing program
State finance option — The California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) Americans with Disabilities Act (CalCAP/ADA) financing program assists small businesses with financing the costs to alter or retrofit existing small business facilities to comply with the requirements of the federal ADA. Learn more at www.treasurer.ca.gov.
Federal and state legal requirements on accessibility for individuals with disabilities
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) —The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, and requires all public accommodations and commercial facilities to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Learn more at www.ada.gov.
California Building Code (CBC) — The CBC contains the construction-related accessibility provisions that are the standards for compliant construction. A facility’s compliance is based on the version of the CBC in place at the time of construction or alteration. Learn more at www.bsc.ca.gov.