Beginning March 15th, storage facilities will need to comply with the new rules instituted by the most recent Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects the rights of disabled civilians.
According to the new law, five percent of the first 200 storage units much be handicapped accessible, reports Inside Self Storage. For any units over the first 200, only two percent must be handicapped-friendly. However, self storage facilities do not have to hold these units for disabled customers. If the other units are taken up and a renter wants one of these spaces, they can use them.
In addition, the new law may not necessitate changes. If an owner is in compliance with the ADA standards set in 1991, they will not be forced to make changes. However, any new storage businesses and any renovations being planned will have to take the new law into account.
"While the March date has significance, it doesn't change the landscape that much," Carlos Kaslow, general counsel for the Self Storage Association, told the news source. "From an operator's standpoint, you want to be in compliance. A lot of ADA is easy for self-storage to comply with just because of the nature of the business. Most storage facilities already have wide hallways because people are navigating stuff down hallways. We have an advantage over many other commercial-building types."
