Rose Paving’s Guide to ADA Compliance in Georgia

Rose Paving / April 24, 2020

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Is your Georgia parking lot ADA Compliant? 

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees equal access to people with disabilities and  requires privately owned Places of Public Accommodation to comply with accessibility standards. 

Rose Paving Atlanta has created this Guide to ADA compliance to ensure Georgia business and property owners have everything they need to keep their parking lots safe, free from barriers, and ADA Compliant. 

What is The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

Is Your Parking Lot ADA Compliant?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive set of federal laws designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities. The ADA does this through the enforcement of five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life:

  • Employment (Title I)
  • Public Services (Title II) 
  • Public Accommodations (Title III)
  • Telecommunications (Title IV) 
  • Miscellaneous (Title V)

 Title III, concerning Public Accommodations, contains design standards and technical requirements that ensure people with disabilities 

have equal access to Places of Public Accommodation (defined below), i.e., facilities, both public and private, used by the public.

How to Become ADA Compliance in Georgia

According to the Georgia Department of Labor, there are nearly 300,000 business establishments in Georgia and all of them are legally required to comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

The same applies to commercial facilities, like office buildings, factories, and warehouses, as well as any private entity that offers examinations and courses related to educational and occupational certification.

In short, if you operate a business with a facility in Georgia used for commercial purposes, then your building (including its parking lot and walkways) must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

Georgia ADA Compliance Resources

Though the ADA is a federal law, state and local governments may pass their own legislation that enforces accessibility standards above and beyond the federal requirement. 

The Rose Paving team in Atlanta has also gathered some additional ADA resources that business owners can keep on hand when learning more about ADA compliance.

A few resources include: 

ADA Compliance Frequently Asked Questions

It’s our goal at Rose Paving to spread ADA awareness and help Georgia business owners make their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. Whether it’s marking handicapped parking spaces or answering your ADA compliance questions, we’re here to help. Below are a few of the most commonly asked ADA questions and their answers. 

Q: Who Is Required To Be ADA Compliant in Georgia?

A: As a federal law, all private businesses (places of public accommodation) must be compliant with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. This includes employers with 15 or more employees and all local, county, state, and federal government agencies.

Q: What Happens If You Aren’t ADA Compliant in Georgia?

A: Businesses who fail to comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design are not only subject to a fine (75,000 violation and $150,000 for every subsequent violation), and may be subject to class action lawsuits filed by individuals with disabilities. 

Q: What are Places of Public Accommodation?

A: Places of Public Accommodation are public or private facilities used by the public, like retail stores, restaurants, movie theatres and office buildings. The term also includes educational institutions, recreational facilities, and service centers. 

Q: Do Parking Lots Have to Be ADA Compliant?

A: Yes. Where parking is provided, the ADA standards require places of public accommodation to provide accessible parking spaces. 

Q: Who Is Exempt From The ADA in Georgia?

A: As a federal law, the Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply to religious organizations, private clubs or any entity historically exempt from federal civil rights laws, such as places of worship and facilities controlled by religious organizations.

However, these entities must make every reasonable accommodation (modification or adjustment to the environment that will enable an individual with a disability to participate) and builders must comply with 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design on any all physical construction and new alterations. 

Q: How Do You Become ADA Compliant in Georgia?

A: If you cater to the public or employ more than 15 employees in Georgia, then your business needs to comply with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

In short, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires most businesses and facilities to ensure reasonable access and accommodation for all disabled customers, clients, and members of the public.  

This may include removing barriers from walkways or the addition of handicapped parking spaces to parking lots. The ADA also mandates business owners to remove all barriers from existing buildings when it is readily achievable to do so without much difficulty or expense.

ADA Compliance for Parking lots, Garages and New Buildings

Georgia business owners can ensure their parking structures are ADA compliant by contacting Rose Paving in Atlanta for an onsite consultation. We will assess your parking lot and give you a full evaluation on your ADA Compliance. From new parking lots and handicapped ramps to accessible pathways and pavement marking, we provide every service you need to ensure your parking lot is ADA compliant. 

Contact Rose Paving in Atlanta to get started on your ADA assessment and consultation.

Additional ADA Compliance Guides from Rose Paving

Guide to ADA Compliance Arizona

Guide to ADA Compliance California

Guide to ADA Compliance Colorado

Guide to ADA Compliance Florida

Guide to ADA Compliance Illinois

Guide to ADA Compliance Tennessee

Guide to ADA Compliance Canada

Rose Paving Ultimate Guide to ADA Compliance