The ADA specifically recognizes the importance of eliminating
structural and architectural barriers by requiring all new or
altered facilities subject to the ADA to be readily accessible
to and usable by people with disabilities. Covered entities must
comply with the Department's ADA regulations, including the ADA
Standards for Accessible Design. Facilities that must comply
with the ADA Standards may also be required to comply with
accessibility requirements established under state or local
laws. There are thousands of jurisdictions in the United States
that adopt or enforce building codes, some of which also include
accessibility requirements. Although many state codes are based
on national models, there can be significant variations among
the state and local code requirements. Design and construction
under state and local codes complies with the ADA only when the
codes provide accessibility that equals or exceeds the ADA
requirements. When these laws are inconsistent, the burden falls
on building owners and