• ADA Compliance Guide for Los Gatos Businesses

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is landmark federal legislation that protects the civil rights of people with disabilities. For businesses, it means every customer-facing space—physical and digital—must be reasonably accessible.

  • Why Accessibility Matters

    • It’s the law. Title III of the ADA and the California Building Code require businesses to remove barriers whenever doing so is “readily achievable.”
    • It’s good business. Americans with disabilities control roughly $490 billion in yearly spending. Welcoming them drives sales and community loyalty.
    • It limits liability. ADA lawsuits can seek $4,000 per visit in statutory penalties plus attorneys’ fees. A proactive plan—starting with a CASp inspection—dramatically reduces that risk.

    1. Protecting Your Business

    Make accessibility part of everyday operations:

    • Book a CASp inspection. A Certified Access Specialist identifies barriers, prioritizes fixes, and issues a confidential report. Having that report before any claim lets you pause a lawsuit for 90 days and can drop penalties to $1 k–$2.5 k.
    • Run quarterly self-checks. Furniture moves, rugs curl, websites change. A quick walk-through focused on parking, doors, restrooms, public areas, and signage keeps small issues from becoming large ones.
    • Train your staff. Employees are the front line for accessibility and customer service. Add a 10-minute refresher at staff meetings and keep a sign-in sheet.
    • Keep good records. Invoices, before/after photos, CASp reports, and training logs show good-faith effort if a claim arises. Store them digitally and back up for at least three years.

    2. Common ADA Trouble Spots

    • Parking & exterior: faded striping, slopes > 2 %, cracked paths
    • Entrances & doors: round knobs, thresholds > ½ in., single step without ramp
    • Restrooms: grab bars missing or at wrong height; dispensers out of reach
    • Sales & seating areas: aisles < 36 in., counters > 34 in. with no low section
    • Signage: missing braille signage at doorways (restrooms, exits) or signage mounted too high or lacking contrast

    A CASp inspection will flag each issue and rank what’s cheapest and easiest to fix first.

    3. Resources at a Glance

    Tax Incentives and Credits Your business may be eligible for tax incentives that help cover accessibility improvements. Incentives can be stacked: you may claim the federal credit and deduction in the same year, add the state credit, and finance through CalCAP.

    4. Getting Started Checklist

    1. Schedule a CASp inspection.
    2. Fix low-cost “readily achievable” items within 60 days.
    3. Create a phased plan and budget for larger alterations.
    4. Select financing/incentives (tax credit, deduction, CalCAP loan).
    5. Train staff and document progress every quarter.

    Disclaimer: This toolkit offers general information, not legal or tax advice. Please consult a qualified CASp, attorney, or tax professional for guidance specific to your business.

    This guide was created by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce to support compliance and accessibility for all.

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