The sections listed below are intended to give guidance to commercial property owners for complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These guidelines are questions you should ask yourself and be thinking about in regard to the design of your commercial property:

Click here to view the "Is Your Business Accessible?" brochure.

The City Council has approved the Downtown Urban Renewal District ADA Assistance Program. This program will fund 25% of eligible accessibility improvment costs to buildings in the Downtown Urban Renewal District.

Downtown Urban Renewal District ADA Assistance Brochure

Map of eligibility area

Submit the online application

1. "Readily achievable" means that the cost to remove architectural and communication barriers that are structural in nature does not exceed $500 out of pocket for a property and/or business owner taking into consideration tax credits and available grant funding (per property).
2. Where the cost of removing barriers to accessibility exceeds a $500 out of pocket expense for a property and/or business owner, taking into consideration tax credits and available grant funding, the property and/or business owner shall work with the Building Official to prioritize barrier removal up to the $500 out of pocket threshold.
3. Where the barrier removal expense threshold is exceeded the property and/or business owner shall work with the Building Official to develop a written plan to make existing facilities available to persons with disabilities through alternative methods.
4. The Building Official cannot waive compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Proudly Accessible Dubuque is an organization independent of the City that deals with accessibility issues. They work to raise awareness of the issue and help provide information regarding accessibility for businesses.