California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection) in Los Angeles, California (2026)
Without a California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance inspection—also called a CASp (Certified Access Specialist) inspection—you cannot legally operate a food service facility in Los Angeles. The California Division of the State Architect requires this inspection to verify that your restaurant meets statewide accessibility standards under Title 24. The inspection confirms compliance with requirements for wheelchair access, restroom facilities, parking, and emergency egress. Key facts:
- 14 fields on the application — ApronPrep auto-fills 12
- Government filing fees vary based on facility size and scope (contact the Division of the State Architect for current pricing)
- Timeline varies depending on your facility's complexity and the selected CASp's availability
Analyzed from California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection)
86% from one compliance interview
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Why You Need a California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection)
California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance is mandated under California Building Code (CBC) Title 24, Part 2, which adopts and extends the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with stricter state-specific requirements. The CASp Inspection program was established by California Civil Code §55.51–§55.545, which authorizes Certified Access Specialists (CASp) to evaluate whether a property meets state accessibility standards. In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) enforces these requirements under Los Angeles Municipal Code §91.6, requiring accessibility compliance as a condition of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy for food service establishments. Any restaurant undergoing a change of use, tenant improvement, or new construction must demonstrate Title 24 compliance before opening to the public — and a CASp inspection report provides documented evidence of that compliance, which also confers specific legal protections under California Civil Code §55.54.
Operating a restaurant in Los Angeles without Title 24 accessibility compliance exposes you to overlapping legal and financial consequences at the state, local, and civil levels. California's construction-related accessibility claim (CRAC) statutes allow private plaintiffs to sue for statutory damages, and a CASp inspection report can limit your exposure under Civil Code §55.54. Beyond civil litigation, LADBS can issue enforcement actions that halt your operations entirely. Key consequences include:
- Stop-work orders issued by LADBS if accessibility deficiencies are discovered during plan check or inspection, halting construction or tenant improvements until remediation is complete
- Fines and penalties imposed by LADBS for code violations — contact LADBS directly to confirm current penalty schedules, as fine amounts are set administratively and subject to change
- Required remediation at your expense, which can be substantially more costly when ordered reactively than when addressed proactively during the design phase
- Variance or permit denial — the city can deny your Certificate of Occupancy until all Title 24 deficiencies are corrected and re-inspected
- Insurance and lease implications — many commercial landlords require proof of CASp inspection status as a lease condition, and some insurers may exclude coverage for accessibility-related claims if no inspection was performed
- Civil litigation exposure — without a CASp report, you lose the statutory protection under Civil Code §55.54 that limits plaintiff's ability to demand immediate injunctive relief
Not legal advice — verify current enforcement procedures and penalty schedules with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and a licensed CASp inspector.
Legal code: California Building Code Title 24, Part 2 (California Accessibility Standards); California Civil Code §55.51–§55.545 (CASp Inspection Program); Los Angeles Municipal Code §91.6
Recent update: As of January 1, 2024, California adopted updated accessibility provisions aligned with the 2022 California Building Code (CBC) cycle, which introduced revised scoping requirements for accessible routes and service counters — restaurants undergoing any permit-triggered work in Los Angeles must comply with these updated CBC Title 24 standards, not prior editions; contact LADBS to confirm which code cycle applies to your specific project.
Who Needs a California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection)?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Full-service restaurants are places of public accommodation under California Building Code Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 11B, and must meet all accessibility standards — including accessible entrances, dining surfaces, restrooms, and service counters — whenever construction, alteration, or a change of occupancy triggers CASp review. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Bars and nightclubs are classified as Group A-2 occupancies under CBC Title 24 and are places of public accommodation subject to Chapter 11B accessibility requirements, including accessible routes, accessible seating areas, and accessible restroom facilities. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Mobile food facilities (food trucks) are regulated under California Health & Safety Code §114315 as vehicles rather than fixed structures, and are generally exempt from CBC Title 24 Chapter 11B CASp inspection requirements — though any permanent commissary or fixed service window structure the truck operates from must still comply. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Coffee shops and cafés are places of public accommodation under CBC Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 11B, and require CASp inspection to confirm accessible routes, counters at compliant heights (CBC §11B-904), and accessible seating wherever construction, alteration, or a tenant improvement permit is sought. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (14 Fields)
12 of 14 auto-filledProperty/Business Owner Name
textEnter the full legal name of the property or business owner exactly as it appears on the deed, lease, or business registration — not a trade name or DBA.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a DBA or trade name (e.g., 'Joe's Tacos') instead of the legal entity name (e.g., 'Hernandez Restaurant Group LLC') causes the CASp inspector to flag a mismatch with property records.
Property Address for Inspection
textEnter the full street address of the physical property being inspected, including suite or unit number if applicable — this must match the address on your business license and any active building permits on file with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a mailing address, P.O. box, or corporate headquarters address instead of the actual inspected property address will invalidate the CASp report and require a resubmission.
Type of Facility
textEnter the California Building Code occupancy classification that applies to your facility (e.g., 'A-2 Restaurant,' 'B Office,' 'M Retail') — this determines which Title 24 Part 2 accessibility standards the CASp inspector will apply during evaluation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Writing a generic description like 'restaurant' or 'store' instead of the CBC occupancy type (e.g., 'A-2') causes scope ambiguity and may result in the wrong accessibility checklist being applied, requiring a re-inspection.
Original Construction Date
textEnter the year (and month if known) when the building was originally constructed — this determines whether the property is evaluated under pre-1982 grandfathering provisions or full Title 24 Part 2 standards, which is a critical compliance threshold.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the date of your tenant improvement or the year you began occupying the space instead of the building's original construction date will cause the inspector to apply incorrect accessibility thresholds, potentially triggering unnecessary remediation requirements.
History of Improvements and Renovations
textList all permitted alterations, tenant improvements, and renovations with their approximate dates — under California Health & Safety Code § 19955.5, any alteration costing more than the valuation threshold triggers a path-of-travel accessibility upgrade obligation that the CASp inspector must document.
COMMON MISTAKE: Omitting unpermitted work or minor remodels is a common error — inspectors cross-reference LADBS permit history, and undisclosed improvements that triggered accessibility obligations can result in a non-compliant finding and enforcement action.
Current Accessibility Compliance Awareness
textBriefly describe what you currently know about your property's accessibility compliance status — for example, whether you have previously received a compliance notice, ADA demand letter, or civil rights complaint, or whether this is a proactive evaluation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this field blank or writing 'unknown' without context forces the CASp inspector to make unsupported assumptions about inspection scope, which can delay the report and increase billable inspection hours.
Previous Accessibility Evaluations
checkboxCheck this box if the property has ever received a formal accessibility evaluation, ADA audit, or prior CASp inspection — California Civil Code § 55.51 requires disclosure of prior CASp determinations in commercial lease transactions.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to check this box when a prior evaluation exists — even an informal one — can constitute a material omission under Civil Code § 55.53 lease disclosure rules, exposing both landlord and tenant to liability.
Previous Evaluation Details
textIf the checkbox above is checked, enter the date, name of the evaluating CASp inspector (their state certification number if available), and the outcome — specifically whether the property received a 'CASp Inspected,' 'CASp Determination,' or 'CASp No Determination' designation under Civil Code § 55.53.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing only the year of the prior evaluation without the inspector's CASp certification number or the official determination status makes it impossible for the current inspector to retrieve the prior report from state records, causing delays.
Scope of Inspection
textSpecify whether the inspection covers the full site (including parking, path of travel, and interior), a limited area (e.g., only tenant space), or a focused element (e.g., restrooms only) — the scope directly determines which Title 24 Part 2 checklist items the CASp inspector will evaluate and document.
COMMON MISTAKE: Requesting a 'full inspection' without clarifying whether common areas and parking controlled by the landlord are included often results in a report that is incomplete for lease disclosure or litigation hold purposes, requiring a costly supplemental inspection.
Purpose of CASp Inspection
textState the primary reason for requesting the CASp inspection — common purposes include: lease execution disclosure (Civil Code § 55.53), response to an ADA demand letter, building permit application support, proactive compliance audit, or refinancing/sale due diligence.
COMMON MISTAKE: Writing a vague purpose like 'compliance check' instead of specifying the legal or transactional context (e.g., 'pre-lease disclosure required under Civil Code § 55.53') means the inspector may produce a report formatted incorrectly for your actual use case, rendering it unusable for its intended purpose.
ApronPrep auto-fills 12 of 14 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection) Mistakes
1. Hiring an Inspector Who Is Not a State-Certified CASp
Based on ApronPrep's analysis of California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection) applications, the single most common mistake is engaging a general contractor or unlicensed inspector instead of a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) credentialed by the California Division of the State Architect (DSA). Under California Civil Code § 55.53, only a DSA-issued CASp certificate holder can produce a report that grants your business the legal presumption of accessibility compliance and qualifies you for the 90-day stay of litigation protection. Verify your inspector's CASp certification number on the DSA's public registry at dgs.ca.gov before scheduling — using an uncertified inspector means your report has no legal standing and you must repeat the entire inspection, typically adding 4–8 weeks to your timeline.
2. Submitting a CASp Report That Does Not Cover the Entire Path of Travel
Many applicants submit a CASp report scoped only to the interior dining area, omitting the accessible path of travel from the public right-of-way — including parking, entrance ramps, door hardware, and signage — which are all required elements under California Building Code Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 11B. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) requires that the path-of-travel analysis be comprehensive; a partial report will be flagged as incomplete and trigger a re-inspection request, adding 3–6 weeks. Before your CASp appointment, confirm in writing that the scope includes exterior parking, accessible routes, restrooms, and all public-use areas of your restaurant.
3. Misidentifying the Correct Business Address and APN on Submission Documents
Entering your mailing address, suite number, or corporate office address instead of the restaurant's verified physical street address and Los Angeles County Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) is a frequent rejection trigger with LADBS permit applications tied to CASp compliance. An APN mismatch causes the submission to be routed to the wrong jurisdiction or property record, resulting in an administrative rejection that adds 2–3 weeks while the correction is processed. Confirm your APN on the Los Angeles County Assessor's portal (assessor.lacounty.gov) before filing — it is a 10-digit number formatted as XXXX-XXX-XXX.
Skip the Paperwork on Your California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection)
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California Building Code Title 24 Accessibility Compliance (CASp Inspection) by City in California
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Contact Division of the State Architect for CASp inspection fee information | Variable based on facility size and inspection scope; consult with selected CASp for timeline estimate |
| San Diego | ||
| San Jose |
Government Filing Fees
Contact Division of the State Architect for CASp inspection fee information
Timeline: Varies
Contact Division of the State Architect (DSA) to request CASp inspection services
Call or email the California Division of the State Architect's Compliance Program to initiate the CASp inspection process — their contact information is available on the DSA website. Be ready to provide your restaurant's address, square footage, and a brief description of the property type (e.g., full-service restaurant, quick-service counter). This initial contact establishes your inspection request in their queue.
Provide property information and inspection scope to DSA
Submit detailed property information including your street address, building age, number of stories, and areas you need evaluated for compliance (dining area, kitchen, restrooms, parking, entrance). DSA uses this data to determine inspection scope and estimate the inspection fee, which typically ranges from $500–$3,000 depending on property size and complexity.
Receive list of available Certified Access Specialists (CASps)
DSA will provide you with a list of qualified CASps certified to conduct inspections in your area — typically 3–8 inspectors depending on Los Angeles County availability. Contact these CASps directly to schedule inspections and request fee quotes. CASp inspection fees are independent of DSA fees and range from $1,500–$5,000+ depending on property complexity.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the California board of building regulations. Local procedures and fees may vary — select your city below.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in California.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcohol Server Training Certification (RBS)
state
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsTimeline for CASp inspections in Los Angeles varies depending on the complexity of your facility and current demand at the Department of Building and Safety. Most restaurant owners should expect 2–4 weeks from application submission to inspection scheduling, though pre-inspection consultations can reduce this if deficiencies are identified early. Contact the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety to confirm current processing times, as they fluctuate seasonally.
The City of Los Angeles does not charge a separate government filing fee for CASp accessibility inspections — the inspection is part of the required compliance process under California Building Code Title 24. However, if your facility requires retrofits or modifications to meet accessibility standards (ramps, door widening, restroom upgrades), those construction costs are your responsibility. For clarification on whether your specific situation triggers additional fees, contact the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Accessibility Section. Not legal advice — verify current fee status directly with the department.
No — CASp compliance certifications are location-specific and cannot be transferred. If you relocate your restaurant to a new address, you must complete a new CASp inspection for that facility, as accessibility requirements are assessed based on the physical space's layout, entrance configuration, and restroom design. Starting the application process early at your new location is critical to avoid delays in your lease closing. Consider also checking requirements for a new Building Permit at your new location, as this may be required concurrently.
CASp inspections are not typically renewed on a recurring schedule — once your facility passes the initial inspection and receives certification, the compliance status remains valid as long as no structural changes are made to your space. However, if you make renovations, add new dining areas, install new restrooms, or alter entry/exit routes, you may be required to request a new CASp inspection. Some jurisdictions may also conduct periodic compliance reviews; contact the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety to confirm whether your facility is subject to recertification requirements.
During a CASp inspection, a certified accessibility specialist will evaluate your restaurant's compliance with California Building Code Title 24 requirements — including entry/exit accessibility, parking, restrooms, dining areas, service counters, and emergency egress routes. The inspector checks for proper door widths (minimum 32 inches clear), accessible route slopes (no steeper than 1:20), grab bar placement, and signage compliance. If deficiencies are found, you receive a report detailing required corrections; you must remediate these and request a re-inspection before final certification. Many restaurants also file an ADA Compliance Self-Certification concurrently to address federal accessibility standards alongside state requirements.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For California specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 14 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State building code, state accessibility code (e.g., MA Architectural Access Board regulations - 521 CMR)
- Los Angeles — Board of Building Regulations / Architectural Access Board
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
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