Introduction
California leads the nation in ADA lawsuits — and the trend is only growing in 2026.
Why?
Because most parking lots and commercial properties have easy-to-spot, high-value violations that plaintiffs know how to find.
Here’s the good news:
Most ADA lawsuits are 100% preventable if you correct the right violations before they’re discovered.
This guide shows you how to protect your property from becoming a target.
1. Why ADA Lawsuits Happen (Even If No One Complains)
Most Property Managers think ADA lawsuits come from unhappy customers.
Wrong.
ADA lawsuits happen because of this:
1) Violations are visible from the parking lot
Plaintiffs don’t need to enter your building.
They only need one violation in the lot to file.
2) California has enhanced penalties
Thanks to the Unruh Civil Rights Act, penalties stack fast.
3) Serial plaintiffs know the common “weak spots”
They typically walk 50–100 lots per week looking for:
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Bad slopes
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Missing signs
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Wrong striping
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Incorrect truncated domes
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Blocked access aisles
4) Most PMs assume they are compliant — until they’re not
A 2.3% slope instead of 2% is enough to trigger a lawsuit.
2. The 6 ADA Violations That Trigger Lawsuits the Most
If you have ANY of these, your property is at high risk:
1) Slopes >2% in Accessible Stalls
This is the #1 cause of ADA lawsuits.
It’s almost impossible to “eyeball” correct slopes.
Plaintiffs measure using digital levels.
2) Incorrect or Faded Striping
Common violations:
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Wrong stall dimensions
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Wrong access aisle width
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Incorrect cross-hatching
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Wrong symbol size
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Missing blue border
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Faded or confusing markings
3) Wrong or Missing Signage
Height matters.
Placement matters.
Reflectivity matters.
And California has stricter rules than federal ADA.
4) Non-Compliant or Missing Truncated Domes
Placement is usually the problem — not the product.
Common issues:
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Too close to the curb
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Wrong size
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Wrong color
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Uneven placement
5) Ramp Slope and Landing Errors
Most ramps installed before 2020 are not compliant in 2026.
6) Path of Travel Blocked or Non-Accessible
A path of travel must be:
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Continuous
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Unobstructed
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Within slope requirements
Most aren’t.
3. The Real Cost of an ADA Violation
Most PMs think an ADA correction job is expensive.
What’s expensive is the lawsuit.
Cost of correcting violations:
$1,000–$10,000 depending on scope
Cost of an ADA lawsuit:
$10,000–$45,000+
Per instance.
Plus:
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Attorney fees
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Mandatory corrections
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Reputation risk
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Tenant issues
Prevention always costs less than litigation.
4. How to Stop ADA Lawsuits Before They Start
Here’s the exact prevention model used by WLP.
Step 1: ADA Site Assessment (Full Criteria Review)
A proper assessment includes:
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Full parking lot inspection
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Slope readings (digital)
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Ramp measurements
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Truncated dome placement
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ADA stall dimensions
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Access aisle verification
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Path of travel review
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Signage and striping conditions
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CBC vs ADA comparison
This is NOT a “walk-through.”
It’s a technical evaluation.
Step 2: Fix the High-Risk Violations First
We always start with:
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Slopes
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Striping
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Signage
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Access aisles
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Truncated domes
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Ramp corrections
These are the most common lawsuit triggers.
Step 3: ADA-Compliant Striping & Signage
Fresh, compliant striping makes a HUGE difference in risk reduction.
Step 4: Repair or Replace Non-Compliant Ramps
Many ramps are fundamentally wrong.
Corrections may include:
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Grinding
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Regrading
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Rebuilding
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Repositioning access aisles
Step 5: Document Everything
Documentation protects you:
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Pre-correction photos
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Post-correction photos
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Slope percentages
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Layout drawings
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Material specs
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Date of compliance
If anything happens, you have proof.
5. The 2026 ADA Compliance Checklist for PMs
Use this checklist quarterly:
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☐ Slopes < 2%
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☐ Stall dimensions correct
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☐ Fresh, visible striping
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☐ Correct signage height & placement
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☐ ADA stalls resurfaced if cracked or uneven
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☐ Truncated domes installed correctly
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☐ Path of travel verified
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☐ Ramps meet 1:12 slope
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☐ Documentation updated
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☐ Annual assessment scheduled
Conclusion
ADA lawsuits are predictable — and preventable.
Most properties get sued because of:
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Bad slopes
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Missing signs
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Incorrect layout
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Faded striping
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Incorrect ramps
Fix these, and you remove 90% of the risk.