Chapter 2 is the most important chapter in the Standards. It tells you how many accessible elements you need and where they're required. While later chapters describe the technical requirements (how wide, how high, what slope), this chapter answers: "Do I need one? How many?" It includes the key scoping tables for parking, restrooms, assembly areas, and guest rooms.
Reading level📄 Plain language + legal text
CurrentlyStandard
These sections establish where and when the Standards apply. New construction must be fully accessible. Alterations must make the altered areas accessible. Certain elements are exempt — like construction sites, employee-only mechanical rooms, and raised areas used only for security or life safety.
Maintenance and normal replacement (paint, carpet, fixtures) are generally not considered alterations.
An accessible route must connect every accessible entrance to all accessible spaces within the building. This is the core "get from A to B" requirement.
At least one accessible route from public transit stops, parking, and sidewalks to an accessible entrance
At least one accessible route between accessible floors (elevator, ramp, or platform lift)
Accessible routes to stages, performing areas, and raised platforms in assembly areas
This is the scoping table — how many accessible spaces you need based on total parking:
Total Spaces
Required Accessible
1–25
1
26–50
2
51–75
3
76–100
4
101–150
5
151–200
6
201–300
7
301–400
8
401–500
9
501–1000
2% of total
1001+
20 + 1 per 100 over 1000
At least 1 in every 6 accessible spaces must be van-accessible (wider, with access aisle).
Where toilet or bathing rooms are provided, at least one of each type must be accessible on each floor:
At least one accessible toilet room per floor where toilets are provided
At least 5% of patient/resident toilet rooms in medical and long-term care facilities
Unisex (single-user) toilet rooms: at least one must be accessible where provided
If a facility has six or more toilet compartments in a multi-stall room, at least one must be a standard accessible compartment AND one must be an ambulatory accessible compartment (narrower, with grab bars).
Signage requirements specify which signs need Braille, raised characters, and high contrast:
Room and space identification signs (room numbers, restroom signs) — must have raised characters and Braille
Directional and informational signs — must meet visual character requirements (contrast, sizing) but don't need Braille
Accessible entrance signs — the International Symbol of Accessibility must be posted at accessible entrances when not all entrances are accessible
Places where people gather — theaters, stadiums, auditoriums, classrooms, courtrooms — must provide wheelchair spaces:
Total Seats
Required Wheelchair Spaces
4–25
1
26–50
2
51–150
4
151–300
5
301–500
6
501–5000
6 + 1 per 150 over 500
5001+
36 + 1 per 200 over 5000
Each wheelchair space must have an adjacent companion seat. Wheelchair spaces must be dispersed to provide lines of sight comparable to other seating.
Hotels, motels, and other lodging must provide accessible guest rooms:
Total Rooms
Mobility Accessible
Communication Accessible
1–25
1
1
26–50
2
2
51–75
3
4
76–100
4
5
101–150
5
7
151–200
6
8
201–300
7
10
301–400
8
12
401–500
9
13
501+
2% of total
4% of total
Mobility rooms have roll-in showers and wider doorways. Communication rooms have visual alarms and notification devices.
The remaining scoping sections cover specific facility types:
§225↗Storage: At least one of each type must be accessible (lockers, shelves, cabinets)
§226↗Dining/work surfaces: At least 5% must be accessible
§231↗Judicial facilities: Each courtroom must have accessible jury boxes, witness stands, and spectator seating
§232↗Detention/correctional: At least 3% of cells must be accessible
§233↗Residential: At least 5% of dwelling units in government housing
§235↗Recreational: Team/player seating, exercise machines, play areas must be accessible
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