Guide to the ADA and ABA Standards

New standards have been issued under the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) based on updated guidelines previously issued by the Board. Several different agencies are responsible for updating and maintaining these standards. This page explains which standards are in effect at this time according to facility type. Direct links to the standards and related information are included.

ADA Standards

The ADA applies to facilities in the private sector (places of public accommodation and commercial facilities) and to state and local government facilities. Standards issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) apply to all ADA facilities except transportation facilities, which are subject to standards maintained by the Department of Transportation (DOT). On July 26, 2010, DOJ released updated ADA regulations and adopted new ADA standards that will take effect 18 months after publication in the Federal Register, although immediate use is permitted. DOT adopted updated ADA standards in 2006 which apply to bus stops, rail stations, and other transportation facilities.

ADA Standards
Facility	Standards to Follow
	Places of Public Accommodation and Commercial Facilities (private sector)	DOJ’s original 1991 ADA Standards or DOJ’s 2010 ADA Standards The original standards are contained in DOJ’s title III regulation (28 CFR Part 36) as Appendix A. DOJ’s updated title III regulation implements the 2010 standards which will become mandatory 18 months after publication in the Federal Register and replace the original standards. Before that date, the 2010 standards can be used in lieu of the original standards once they are published in the Federal Register.
	State and Local Government Facilities (except transportation facilities)	DOJ’s original 1991 ADA Standards or UFAS or DOJ’s 2010 ADA Standards DOJ’s title II regulation (28 CFR Part 35) allows use of the original ADA standards (with some exceptions) or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). DOJ’s updated title II regulation implements the 2010 standards which will become mandatory 18 months after publication in the Federal Register and replace the option to use the original ADA standards or UFAS. Before that date, the 2010 standards can be used in lieu of the original ADA standards or UFAS once they are published in the Federal Register.
	Transportation Facilities	DOT’s ADA Standards for Transportation Facilities (2006) These standards took effect November 29, 2006, as indicated in a notice published by DOT

ADA Standards

Facility

Standards to Follow

Places of Public Accommodation and Commercial Facilities (private sector)

DOJ’s original 1991 ADA Standards or DOJ’s 2010 ADA Standards
The original standards are contained in DOJ’s title III regulation (28 CFR Part 36) as Appendix A. DOJ’s updated title III regulation implements the 2010 standards which will become mandatory 18 months after publication in the Federal Register and replace the original standards. Before that date, the 2010 standards can be used in lieu of the original standards once they are published in the Federal Register.

State and Local Government Facilities (except transportation facilities)

DOJ’s original 1991 ADA Standards or UFAS or DOJ’s 2010 ADA Standards
DOJ’s title II regulation (28 CFR Part 35) allows use of the original ADA standards (with some exceptions) or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). DOJ’s updated title II regulation implements the 2010 standards which will become mandatory 18 months after publication in the Federal Register and replace the option to use the original ADA standards or UFAS. Before that date, the 2010 standards can be used in lieu of the original ADA standards or UFAS once they are published in the Federal Register.

Transportation Facilities

DOT’s ADA Standards for Transportation Facilities (2006)
These standards took effect November 29, 2006, as indicated in a notice published by DOT

ABA Standards

The ABA applies to federally funded facilities. The General Services Administration (GSA) updated its ABA standards, which apply to most facilities covered by the ABA. Similar standards have been adopted by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for postal facilities and by the Department of Defense for military facilities. The Department of Housing (HUD) is in the processing of updating its ABA standards, which apply to federally funded residential facilities.

ABA Standards
Facility	Standards to Follow
	Federal Facilities (other than postal, housing, and military facilities)	GSA’s ABA Accessibility Standard (updated) Effective May 9, 2006 (February 6, 2007 for leased facilities), as indicated in GSA’s Federal Management Regulation (subpart c)
	Postal Facilities	USPS’s ABA Accessibility Standard (updated, also known as the RE-4 Standards) PDF version Effective October 1, 2005, as indicated in a notice issued by USPS
	Military Facilities	DOD’s ABA Accessibility Standard (updated) Effective October 31, 2008, as indicated in a DOD policy memorandum
	Housing	UFAS HUD to replace UFAS with updated ABA standards

ABA Standards

Facility

Standards to Follow

Federal Facilities (other than postal, housing, and military facilities)

GSA’s ABA Accessibility Standard (updated)
Effective May 9, 2006 (February 6, 2007 for leased facilities), as indicated in GSA’s Federal Management Regulation (subpart c)

Postal Facilities

USPS’s ABA Accessibility Standard (updated, also known as the RE-4 Standards) PDF version
Effective October 1, 2005, as indicated in a notice issued by USPS

Military Facilities

DOD’s ABA Accessibility Standard (updated)
Effective October 31, 2008, as indicated in a DOD policy memorandum

Housing

UFAS
HUD to replace UFAS with updated ABA standards

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance on the ADA and ABA standards is available from the Board:

phone: 800-872-2253 (voice) or 800-993-2822 (TTY), weekdays 10 – 5:30 EST (Wed. 10 – 2)
e-mail: ta@access-board.gov
fax: 202-272-0081