The requirement to make buildings accessible to all is probably the biggest legislatively-imposed change on the construction industry during the last three decades. These laws have been a tremendous help to disabled people, but from a builder's standpoint, there are some legal problems that haven't been worked out yet. Two federal congressional acts require buildings to be made accessible to everyone, including disabled people. The first is the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which applies to commercial buildings and public accommodations, such as restaurants or malls. New buildings must comply with ADA standards for accessibility, and when existing buildings are remodeled, the ADA requires that those buildings be moved closer to compliance. The second building accessibility law is the Fair Housing Act
