Is Your Door Hardware ADA Compliant?

Here’s What Business Owners and Landlords Need to Know

Placard and arrow showing direction of accessible entrance to building

When it comes to keeping your property accessible and up to code, ADA-compliant door hardware is one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements. If you're a business owner or landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, can access your property safely and easily. But how do you know if your building is compliant?

What Is ADA-Compliant Hardware?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets standards to ensure buildings are accessible to individuals with disabilities. For door hardware, this typically means:

• Lever-style handles (not knobs) that don’t require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist

• Mounting height

  between 34 and 48 inches from the finished floor

• Ease of operation (typically requiring no more than 5 pounds of force to operate)

• Appropriate door closers that allow enough time for someone to pass through

  
  

These requirements apply to both exterior and interior doors in public buildings, commercial spaces, rental properties, and multi-unit housing with shared spaces.

Who Needs to Be ADA Compliant?

If your property serves the public, or houses tenants with access to shared areas, you may be legally required to comply with ADA regulations. This includes:

Woman in a wheelchair opening door

• Retail stores

• Restaurants

• Offices

• Medical facilities

• Apartment complexes

• Schools and childcare centers

• Hotels and motels

  
  

Even if you're not currently under inspection, a non-compliant door could become a liability in the event of a complaint, injury, or fire safety inspection.

Local Codes and Fire Marshal Inspections

Here's where it gets tricky: ADA compliance can vary depending on your location and local fire code enforcement. In some areas, the fire marshal may enforce stricter or more specific requirements for doors and exits. A setup that’s technically ADA-compliant under federal law might still get flagged during a local inspection.

That’s why it's important not to assume you're compliant just because the building is newer or hasn’t had issues yet.

Not Sure if You’re Compliant? We Can Help.

At Locksmith Solutions of Greater Rochester, we specialize in ADA-compliant hardware installations and audits. Whether you're unsure if your lever handles meet code or need advice on replacing non-compliant closers, we can walk through your property and assess each door for:

✅ ADA compliance

✅ Fire code requirements

✅ Ease of access and safety

✅ Recommendations for upgrades or repairs

Our goal is to help you avoid costly violations and ensure your property is safe, welcoming, and up to code.

📞 Contact us today to schedule an ADA hardware audit. It's one simple step that can save you time, money, and legal headaches down the road.