Accessibility · October 11, 2026 · 4 min read
Accessibility in a California tenant improvement: the path-of-travel rule.
When you remodel a commercial space in California, the route that serves it usually has to be made accessible too. How the 20% rule works, and the 2026 valuation threshold of $209,208.
Article
By the Builteck team
Many owners and tenants are surprised to learn that a tenant improvement in California can require accessibility upgrades outside the area being remodeled. The requirement comes from the California Building Code, Chapter 11B, Section 11B-202.4, and it is often called the path-of-travel rule.
What is the path of travel?
The path of travel is the route a person with a disability uses to reach and use the altered area. It includes a primary entrance to the building, the accessible route to the altered area, and the restrooms, drinking fountains, public telephones and signs that serve it.
The valuation threshold and the 20% rule
Each year the Division of the State Architect publishes a valuation threshold. For 2026 it is $209,208.
- At or below the threshold: the cost of path-of-travel upgrades can be limited to 20% of the adjusted construction cost of the project.
- Above the threshold: the path of travel must be brought fully into compliance. A building department may accept an unreasonable-hardship request, but the decision is theirs.
The order of priority
When the 20% limit applies, the money is spent in a set order, so the most important barriers are removed first:
- An accessible entrance
- An accessible route to the altered area
- At least one accessible restroom for each sex, or a single unisex restroom
- Accessible telephones
- Accessible drinking fountains
- Other elements, such as parking, signs and storage
Why it matters early
Path-of-travel work can change a budget and a schedule, especially in older buildings. Meeting the building code also does not protect an owner from claims under the federal ADA or California’s Unruh Act if barriers remain. A survey by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) before design gives the clearest picture of what the space needs.
Our in-house architect and engineers check path-of-travel scope during preconstruction, before it can surprise a budget. Request a bid to have your space reviewed.
This article is a general summary, not legal advice. Our architect reviews accessibility on every Builteck tenant improvement, and we coordinate CASp inspections when a project needs one.
Sources
Keep reading
More insights.
Request a bid
Planning your next project?
Send plans, a lease exhibit or a scope of work. Our estimators reply within one business day. Private consultations by appointment.