DISABILITY ACCESS REQUIREMENTS AND RESOURCES
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS FOR BUSINESS LICENSES AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS:
Under federal and state law, compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building
owners and tenants with buildings open to the public. You may obtain information about your legal obligations and how to comply with disability access
laws at the following agencies:
DEPARTMENT OF GENERALSERVICES,
Division of the State Architect, CASp
Program
www.dgs.ca.gov/dsa
www.dgs.ca.gov/casp
DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION
Disability Access Services
www.dor.ca.gov
www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/dis
abilityaccessinfo
DEPARTMENT OF GENERALSERVICES,
California Commission on Disability Access
www.ccda.ca.gov
www.ccda.ca.gov/resources-menu/
Certified Access Specialist Inspection Services
Compliance with state and federal construction-related accessibility standards ensures that public places are accessible and available to individuals
with disabilities. Whether your business is moving into a newly constructed facility or you are planning an alteration to your current facility, by
engaging the services of a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) early in this process you will benefit from the advantages of compliance and under the
Construction-Related Accessibility Standards Compliance Act (CRASCA, Civil Code 55.51-55.545), also benefit from legal protections.Although your
new facility may have already been permitted and approved by the building department, it is important to obtain CASp inspection services after your
move-in because unintended access barriers and violations can be created, for example, placing your furniture and equipment in areas required to
be maintained clear of obstructions. For planned alterations, a CASp can provide plan review of your improvement plans and an access compliance
evaluation of the public accommodation areas of your facility that may not be part of the alteration.A CASp is a professional who has been certified
by the State of California to have specialized knowledge regarding the applicability of accessibility standards. CASp inspection reports prepared
according to CRASCA entitle business and facility owners to specific legal benefits, in the event that a construction-related accessibility claim is filed
against them. To find a CASp, visit www.apps2.dgs.ca.gov/DSA/casp/casp_certified_list.aspx
.
Government Tax Credits, Tax Deductions and Financing
State and federal programs to assist businesses with access compliance and access expenditures are available:
Disabled Access Credit for Eligible Small Businesses
FEDERAL TAX CREDIT—Internal Revenue Code Section 44 provides a federal tax credit for small businesses that incur expenditures for the
purpose of providing access to persons with disabilities. For more information, refer to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 8826: Disabled Access
Credit at www.irs.gov
.
STATE TAX CREDIT—Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 17053.42 and 23642 provide a state tax credit similar to the federal Disabled Access
Credit, with exceptions. For more information, refer to Franchise Tax Board (FTB) Form 3548: Disabled Access Credit for Eligible Small Businesses
at www.ftb.ca.gov
.
Architectural and Transportation Barrier Removal Deduction
FEDERAL TAX DEDUCTION—Internal Revenue Code Section 190 allows businesses of all sizes to claim an annual deduction for qualified
expenses incurred to remove physical, structural and transportation barriers for persons with disabilities. For more information, refer to IRS
Publication 535: Business Expenses at www.irs.gov
.
California Capital Access Financing Program
STATE FINANCE OPTION—The California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) Americans with Disabilities Act (CalCAP/ADA) financing program
assists small businesses with financing the costs to alter or retrofit existing small business facilities to comply with the requirements of the federal
ADA. Learn more at www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/calcap/
.
Federal and State Legal Requirements on Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 (ADA) —The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with
disabilities, and requires all public accommodations and commercial facilities to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Learn more at
www.ada.gov
.CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE (CBC)—The CBC contains the construction-related accessibility provisions that are the standards for compliant
construction. A facility’s compliance is based on the version of the CBC in place at the time of construction or alteration. Learn more at
www.bsc.ca.gov
.
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