Definition
A federal law requiring accessibility in public accommodations, which can apply to certain HOA common areas open to the public.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessibility in places of public accommodation. Its application to HOAs is limited but real: common areas genuinely open to the public — a rented clubhouse or a public-facing office — may trigger ADA requirements.
Purely private residential common areas are generally governed by the Fair Housing Act's accommodation rules rather than the ADA. Because the line can be nuanced, boards with public-facing facilities should get specific legal advice.