A9. If you own, operate, lease, or lease to a business that serves the public, then you are covered by the ADA and have obligations for removing barriers in existing facilities, ensuring compliance with architectural standards in newly constructed or altered facilities, and communicating effectively with people with sensory disabilities such as blindness and deafness.
Places of public accommodation include a wide range of businesses, from hotels, restaurants, and theaters to grocery stores, banks, and art galleries. A wide range of private businesses that serve the public are included in the categories, regardless of size. See below for examples of businesses that fall within the twelve types of places of public accommodation.
"Bona fide" private membership clubs are exempt, except to the extent that they make their facilities or services available to non-members. Religious entities are broadly exempt, even if they make their facilities or services available to the general public.
Type of Establishment Examples |
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Place of lodging: hotel, inn, motel (except if less than six rooms for rent and the residence of the owner) |
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Establishment serving food or drink: restaurant, bar |
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Place of exhibition or entertainment: theater, cinema, concert hall, stadium |
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Place of public gathering: auditorium, convention center, lecture hall |
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Sales or rental establishment: bakery, grocery store, clothing store, shopping mall, video rental store |
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Service establishment: bank, lawyer's office, gas station, funeral parlor, laundromat, dry cleaner, barber shop, beauty salon, insurance office, hospital, travel agency, pharmacy, office of health care provider |
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Station used for specified public transportation: bus depot, light rail station |
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Place for public display or collection: museum, library, gallery |
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Place of recreation: park, zoo, amusement park |
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Place of education: preschool, nursery, elementary, secondary, undergraduate, or postgraduate private school |
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Social service establishment: shelter, day care center, food bank, senior citizen center, adoption agency |
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Place of exercise and recreation: gymnasium, health club, bowling alley, golf course |