In 2016, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed Ordinance No. 51-16, or the Mandatory Disability Access Improvements. In September 2021, the law was amended.
This is a law that only applies to San Francisco. Ordinance No. 51-16, requires property and business owners to make all primary entrances to their businesses accessible for people with disabilities.
The first deadline for compliance was in May 23, 2018. Property owners and operators now have another opportunity to bring their doorways into compliance.
The law requires property owners and tenants to make their business entrances physically accessible. This law helps property owners and their tenants achieve access to their business to the greatest extent possible.
This law is in addition to state and Federal accessibility requirements that property owners must meet under the Americans with Disabilities Act Title III.
At Arcor Inc, we have licensed Architects and Certified Access Specialists to help you.
We will fill out the Category Checklist form and help you create a plan to make your entrance accessible.
Our Access Specialists will conduct an on site survey of your primary entrance.
If your building has more than 1 public entrance, all entrances will be inspected..
We will complete your Category Checklist Compliance Form for each entrance. The category we determine for your entrance, will influence if you need to make changes in order to ensure it is accessible.
Your access professional will explain any proposed changes on the Category Checklist Compliance form.
If you need to make changes to your business entrance, you need a Planning Department review.
Include “Category Checklist Submittal” in the subject line.
If you have a Category 1 entrance, DBI will mail you a Certificate of Final Completion verifying compliance with the program.
You must submit this checklist by June 30, 2022.
If you can make your entrance accessible with a small, non-structural change, you should do this. You will then need to hire us again to complete another Category Checklist form, showing that your entrance is now a Category 1.
DBI will mail you a Certificate of Final Completion verifying compliance.
If your entrance requires more complex, structural changes, you will need building permits.
In your permit application, state that the permit is “for compliance with the ABE” in your project description.
You do not need to resubmit the Category Checklist form.
DBI will mail you a Certificate of Final Completion verifying compliance once your permit project is complete.