MYTH - My Pre-ADA Building is "Grandfathered"

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MYTH:

“My business doesn’t need to comply with the ADA because my building is old and I am “Grandfathered”

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FACT:

There is NO “Grandfather” clause in the ADA. It does not matter if your facility was constructed in 1776. Public accommodations must comply.

The ADA “Grandfather Clause” is a Myth

Most people assume that if their property was built before the ADA was passed in 1990 that they are immune to the current accessibility standards. That assumption is not true and failure to recognize this fact puts your property at risk of falling victim to a "shakedown lawsuit". The law clearly states that all readily achievable barriers must be removed in public accommodations regardless of when the property was developed.

Contact a Certified Access Specialist (CASp)

There are many nuances and interactions between state and federal requirements. We highly recommend that you consult with a CASp if you have any questions about your facility. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Cory Cabral

Cory Cabral is our co-founder and Senior Certified Access Specialist. He graduated from San Diego State University with bachelors degree in Business Administration. After college he began his career in the sign industry where be became an expert in the field of ADA signage. During that time, he found that many of his clients were being put out of business because of ADA lawsuits. In most cases, the business owners simply did not know that their businesses had barriers to accessibility. He soon began searching for resources to help his clients avoid accessibility lawsuits and discovered the California Certified Access Specialist program. After immersing himself in all aspects of accessibility in the built environment by studying at the CalCasp Academy and the DSA, he became a California Certified Access Specialist. He is now CASp-630 and helps businesses limit exposure to ADA lawsuits by providing them with the resources necessary to make their products and services accessible to all.