Title III—public accommodations (and commercial facilities)[edit]
See 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181–12189.
The ADA sets standards for construction of accessible public facilities. Shown is a sign indicating an accessible fishing platform at Drano Lake, Washington.
Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases, or operates a place of public accommodation. Public accommodations include most places of lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores, care providers, and places of public displays.
Under Title III of the ADA, all new construction (construction, modification or alterations) after the effective date of the ADA (approximately July 1992) must be fully compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)[11] found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 28 C.F.R., Part 36, Appendix A.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990
The key phrase there being ‘new construction’.
A landlord should work closely with lawyers who know ADA law on any renovation to make sure that it stays below the threshold that would trigger ADA compliance unless the market is such that the additional costs to bring it into compliance can be recovered.
Side note: Multifamily properties may also be covered by HUD regulations (4+ dwelling units). And, of course, liberal states are likely to have their own, stricter rules.
I know a guy doing construction that had to build a wheelchair ramp up to the stripper stage because of the ADA.