Disability Rights
Environmental Barriers
The Office of the Attorney General is responsible for investigating complaints alleging violations of the Illinois Environmental Barriers Act (EBA). The EBA, enacted in 1985 and amended in 1996 and 2017, is the statute that governs physical access for people with disabilities in new construction, additions and alterations to public facilities and multi-story housing.
The Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC) implements the Environmental Barriers Act. The IAC contains the design standards required by the EBA such as the required width of a door and the number of accessible parking spaces that must be provided. The IAC has the force of a building code in Illinois.
When an investigation confirms that the EBA/IAC has been violated, the Office attempts to amicably resolve the complaint. Voluntary compliance continues to be the most efficient and successful method to resolve accessibility complaints, however, lawsuits are filed when necessary seeking compliance and fines.