# Question about the American Disabilities Act
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-american-disabilities-act/399095
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 7, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-american-disabilities-act/399095 "2007-04-07T13:18:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@brownsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownsfan)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-american-disabilities-act/399095/1 "2007-04-07T13:18:17Z")
Are restaurants required to provide handicapped accessible restrooms? Any answers from dopers in the know are appreciated.
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### Author:  [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-american-disabilities-act/399095/2 "2007-04-07T13:40:23Z")
My general understanding is that public facilities (including restaurants) are required to provide handicapped accessible bathrooms in any new construction or major renovation. They are not, however, required to retrofit accessible bathrooms until the premises undergoes a major renovation.
So, any newish restaurant is required to have accessible bathrooms, but many older ones will not.
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### Author:  [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-american-disabilities-act/399095/3 "2007-04-07T13:56:42Z")
I’ll add to \*\*Billdo \*\* that if it were a restaurant on the Historic Register (or in a Building on the HR) it only needs to comply “to the extent feasible” without disrupting the nature of the building.
Nice link for more info from for small business from the DOJ
[http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/publicat.htm#Anchor-ADA-35326](http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/publicat.htm#Anchor-ADA-35326)