Need an ADA Inspector?
Every ADA inspector on our team is a licensed CASp. We measure your property against the ADA and California accessibility codes, then give you a clear report of what to fix and in what order.
What Is an ADA Inspector?
An ADA inspector is a professional who measures a building, site, or set of plans against the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and reports every barrier that keeps a person with a disability from using it.
There is no federal ADA inspector license. The Department of Justice does not certify ADA inspectors or consultants, so the credential behind the inspector matters. In California, the recognized credential is the Certified Access Specialist (CASp), certified by the Division of the State Architect under Government Code §4459.5. A CASp inspects to both the federal ADA Standards and California Building Code Chapter 11B, which is stricter in many places.
All ADA inspectors at ADA Access Consultants are licensed CASp inspectors. We inspect restaurants, retail stores, offices, hotels, apartment leasing offices, and shopping centers across California and nationwide.
What Does an ADA Inspector Do?
An ADA inspection is a measured, documented survey, not a walk-through opinion. Here is how ours work.
Scope and documents
We confirm which buildings, parking areas, and routes are included and review any plans, prior reports, or lawsuit complaints you have.
On-site measurements
Your ADA inspector walks the property with a digital level, tape, and force gauge: slopes, widths, heights, clearances, and door forces.
Photo documentation
Every finding is photographed with the measurement shown, so your contractor can see exactly what is out of compliance.
Written report
You receive a report that lists each barrier, the code section it violates, and the correction needed, with a schedule for completing the work.
What an ADA Inspector Checks
An ADA inspection follows the path a customer takes: from the parking space, along the route to the entrance, through the door, to the sales and service areas, and into the restroom. These are the items our ADA inspectors measure on almost every commercial property, with the federal requirement from the 2010 ADA Standards.
| Area | What the ADA inspector measures | ADA Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | Car space 96″ wide, van space 132″ (or 96″ with a 96″ aisle), access aisle 60″, slope 1:48 max, sign 60″ to the bottom | §502 |
| Accessible route | 36″ clear width, running slope 1:20 max, cross slope 1:48 max, changes in level ¼″ max | §303, §403 |
| Ramps | Slope 1:12 max, 36″ wide, 30″ max rise per run, 60″ landings, handrails where rise exceeds 6″ | §405 |
| Doors | 32″ clear opening, maneuvering clearance, hardware 34″–48″, ½″ threshold, 5 lbf opening force (interior) | §404 |
| Restrooms | 60″ turning space, toilet centerline 16″–18″, seat 17″–19″, grab bars 33″–36″, lavatory rim 34″ max | §304, §604, §606, §609 |
| Reach and controls | Operable parts 15″–48″, usable with one hand, 5 lbf max | §308, §309 |
| Signage | Tactile room signs on the latch side, 48″–60″ above the floor, with Grade 2 Braille | §703 |
California properties are held to whichever rule is stricter. CBC Chapter 11B requires, for example, a 108″ wide car space and 144″ van space, a 48″ wide ramp, door hardware no higher than 44″, and a 60″ × 48″ maneuvering space in front of the toilet. A CASp checks both codes in the same visit. See our ADA definitions for any term you don’t recognize.
ADA Inspector vs. CASp Inspector
Every CASp is an ADA inspector, but not every ADA inspector is a CASp. In California, that difference has legal weight. Only an inspection by a Certified Access Specialist makes a business owner a “qualified defendant” under Civil Code §55.52 if a construction-related accessibility lawsuit is filed.
If you are in California, the inspection you need is a CASp inspection. Outside California, our inspectors use the same process and report format against the 2010 ADA Standards and your local building code.
What a CASp inspection adds in California
- Right to request a 90-day stay of the lawsuit and an early evaluation conference (Civ. Code §55.54).
- Minimum statutory damages can drop from $4,000 to $1,000 per offense when violations are corrected within 60 days (§55.56).
- Small businesses correcting within 30 days can see the minimum reduced to $2,000.
- Businesses with 50 or fewer employees owe no minimum statutory damages for 120 days after a CASp inspection, if it came before the claim and the violations are fixed in that window.
- A numbered Disability Access Inspection Certificate you can post at your business (§55.53).
Your ADA Inspection Report
The deliverable from your ADA inspector is a written report you can hand directly to a contractor, landlord, or attorney. For CASp inspections, California law sets what it must contain (Civil Code §55.53). Ours include:
- The areas inspected and the date of inspection
- Each barrier found, with photos and measurements
- The ADA Standards and CBC 11B section for every item
- The correction needed to bring each item into compliance
- A schedule for completing the corrections
- Whether a readily achievable barrier removal assessment is included
Upon request we also provide the ADA inspection certificate for your storefront. An inspection documents where you stand; making the changes is what brings the property into compliance, and we help you prioritize them.
Meet Our ADA Inspectors
Our ADA inspection team is led by Ernie Castro, CASp #618. Becoming a CASp takes significant construction-related experience and education, plus a state exam covering the California Building Code, federal accessibility regulations, state and federal housing guidelines, and California disability access statutes.
Our inspectors are members of the Certified Access Specialist Institute (CASI) and stay current as codes change. We care about the “why” behind each rule, not just the measurement, and we explain findings in plain English so you can make decisions with confidence.
When to Hire an ADA Inspector
Most of our clients call an ADA inspector at one of these moments:
- You received an ADA lawsuit or demand letter.
- You are buying, leasing, or renewing a commercial lease. In California, leases must state whether the premises have been CASp-inspected (Civ. Code §1938).
- You are planning a remodel and need to know the path-of-travel upgrades it triggers.
- You want a plan review before construction starts.
- You want to find and fix barriers before someone else does.
Facing a lawsuit? Start with our step-by-step lawsuit guide. Building or remodeling? Ask about an ADA plan review.
ADA Inspector FAQ
Questions we hear most often from property owners and managers.
What does an ADA inspector do?
An ADA inspector measures parking, routes, entrances, doors, restrooms, counters, and signage against the 2010 ADA Standards (and in California, CBC Chapter 11B), photographs each barrier, and writes a report listing the corrections needed.
How do I find a certified ADA inspector?
There is no federal ADA certification. In California, hire a Certified Access Specialist (CASp), certified by the Division of the State Architect. Outside California, look for an inspector with CASp or ICC Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner credentials and commercial inspection experience. All of our inspectors are licensed CASp inspectors.
Is there an ADA inspector near me?
We inspect properties throughout California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Fresno, and we travel nationwide. Call (949) 339-9429 to check availability in your area.
How much does an ADA inspection cost?
Cost depends on the size of the property and how many buildings, parking areas, and restrooms are included. See our guide to CASp inspection cost or request a free estimate.
What is the difference between an ADA inspector and a CASp inspector?
An ADA inspector checks a property against the ADA. A CASp is a California-certified ADA inspector whose inspection also gives the owner qualified defendant protections under California law.
Does passing an ADA inspection make my property compliant?
The inspection identifies what is out of compliance. Your property is compliant once the corrections in the report are made. Many owners schedule a follow-up inspection to confirm the work.
Hire an ADA Inspector
Tell us about your property and we will send a free estimate.