What Does 'Readily Achievable' Mean?
Under Title III of the ADA, businesses open to the public must remove architectural barriers in existing buildings when doing so is "readily achievable." This means the change can be made without much difficulty or expense.
This standard applies to buildings that existed before the ADA (January 26, 1992) and have not been significantly renovated. New construction and major renovations have stricter rules — they must meet full accessibility standards.
The key idea: you don't have to do everything, but you must do what's reasonable for your business.
Official Standard
42 U.S.C. §12181(9) — Definition
"The term 'readily achievable' means easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense."
28 CFR §36.304(a)
"A public accommodation shall remove architectural barriers in existing facilities, including communication barriers that are structural in nature, where such removal is readily achievable, i.e., easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense."
Factors That Determine 'Readily Achievable'
Whether barrier removal is "readily achievable" depends on four main factors:
- Cost of the change: How expensive is it? A $200 portable ramp is very different from a $50,000 elevator.
- Resources of the facility: How much money does this specific location generate? A busy downtown location can afford more than a struggling rural branch.
- Resources of the parent company: If the location is part of a larger corporation, the parent's overall resources count too. A single franchise location is judged partly by the franchisor's resources.
- Type of operation: The physical nature of the building, the type of business, and how removing the barrier would impact operations.
A small family-owned shop with a single step might be required to add a portable ramp ($100–$300). The same shop would notlikely be required to install an elevator ($50,000+).
Official Standard
42 U.S.C. §12181(9) — Factors
In determining whether an action is readily achievable, factors to be considered include:
(A) The nature and cost of the action;
(B) The overall financial resources of the facility involved, the number of persons employed, the effect on expenses and resources, or any other impact of the action on the operation of the facility;
(C) The overall financial resources of the covered entity, the number and type of its facilities;
(D) The type of operation, including the composition, structure, and functions of the workforce, and the geographic separateness and administrative or fiscal relationship of the facility to the covered entity.
Priority Order for Barrier Removal
The DOJ recommends tackling barriers in a specific priority order:
Official Standard
28 CFR §36.304(c) — Priorities
The Department of Justice recommends the following priority order for barrier removal:
(1) Providing access to the facility from public sidewalks, parking, or public transportation (entrance access);
(2) Providing access to areas where goods and services are made available to the public;
(3) Providing access to restroom facilities; and
(4) Removing remaining barriers.
Examples of Readily Achievable Changes
The DOJ provides a long list of changes that are typicallyconsidered readily achievable. Here are the most common:
- Installing a ramp over a step at the entrance
- Adding grab bars in restroom stalls
- Rearranging furniture to create wider paths (36 inches minimum)
- Installing lever-style door handles to replace round knobs
- Lowering a section of counter or providing a clipboard for signing at counter height
- Adding Braille or raised-letter signs at doors
- Repositioning shelves or paper towel dispensers within reach range
- Insulating exposed pipes under sinks to prevent burns for wheelchair users
Official Standard
28 CFR §36.304(b) — Examples
Examples of steps to remove barriers include: installing ramps; making curb cuts in sidewalks and at entrances; repositioning shelves; rearranging tables, chairs, vending machines, display racks, and other furniture; repositioning telephones; adding raised markings on elevator control buttons; installing flashing alarm lights; widening doors; installing offset hinges to widen doorways; eliminating a turnstile or providing an alternative accessible path; installing accessible door hardware; installing grab bars in toilet stalls; rearranging toilet partitions to increase maneuvering space; insulating lavatory pipes under sinks to prevent burns; installing a raised toilet seat; installing a full-length bathroom mirror; repositioning paper towel dispensers; removing high pile, low density carpeting; and installing vehicle hand controls.
An Ongoing Obligation
Barrier removal is not a one-time task. The ADA imposes a continuing obligation to remove barriers. That means:
- Reassess regularly: As your business's financial situation changes, what was once too expensive may become readily achievable. The DOJ recommends reviewing annually.
- Cumulative progress: Even if you can only do one change per year, you should be making steady progress toward full accessibility.
- Tax incentives help: The Disabled Access Credit (Section 44) and Barrier Removal Deduction (Section 190) can offset costs, making more changes "readily achievable."
DOJ Technical Assistance — 28 CFR Part 36
"The obligation to engage in readily achievable barrier removal is a continuing one. Over time, barrier removal that initially was not readily achievable may later be required because of changed circumstances."
If Barrier Removal Isn't Readily Achievable
When removing a barrier is not readily achievable, you must still provide an alternative method of access. Examples:
- If a mezzanine dining area isn't accessible, provide table service on the main accessible floor
- If shelving is too high, offer staff assistanceto retrieve items
- If a fitting room is too narrow, allow customers to use an alternative space or offer a return/exchange policy
- If your entrance has stairs, provide curbside service or move operations to an accessible location
The alternative method doesn't have to be perfect — but it must provide meaningful access to the goods or services your business offers.
Important Note
This guide provides general information about the ADA's barrier removal standard. Whether a specific change is "readily achievable" for your business depends on your individual circumstances. For advice about your specific situation, connect with an experienced ADA attorney.
Official Standard
28 CFR §36.305 — Alternatives
"If a public accommodation can demonstrate that the removal of a barrier under §36.304 is not readily achievable, a public accommodation shall not fail to make such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations available through alternative methods if such methods are readily achievable."
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Priority Order for Removing Barriers
ADA barrier removal requirements generally follow a priority order, since most businesses can't fix everything at once. The usual order is:
- Getting people in the door: entrances, parking, and the path from the street.
- Getting people to the services: aisles, routes inside, and access to the main offerings.
- Access to restrooms, if restrooms are available to the public.
- Anything else that helps people use the space fully, like signage or drinking fountains.
This order is a general guide, not a strict legal checklist. What a specific business must do still depends on the four factors above: cost, the resources of that location, the resources of any parent company, and the type of operation.
Who Decides What's Required
There's no single government inspector who signs off on whether a business has met its barrier removal duty. It's judged case by case, often after someone raises a problem, using those same four factors. A business that removes barriers in a reasonable, planned way generally has a stronger position than one that does nothing.
Common Low-Cost Fixes
Examples businesses often point to when barrier removal is readily achievable include:
- Installing a portable ramp at a single step
- Widening an aisle by rearranging shelving or furniture
- Adding grab bars in an existing restroom stall
- Lowering a paper towel dispenser or mirror
- Re-striping an accessible parking space
These examples show the kind of change that's often low-cost and simple to carry out. Whether a specific fix is required still depends on the business's own facts.
What This Doesn't Cover
This page explains the general readily achievable standard for existing buildings under Title III. It doesn't cover new construction or major renovations, which must generally meet the full 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. It also isn't a way to check whether a specific barrier has actually been removed or how serious it looks in person.
If you want a quick read on a specific doorway, ramp, restroom, or parking space, get a free Spot read. It's a screening tool, not a compliance check, and it names what stands out in one photo.