Hotel ADA Compliance in Century City
9 hotels across 6 commercial corridors. With 85.7% of buildings constructed before 1990 and an average build year of 1988, Century City hotels face significant ADA compliance challenges.
Century City has 9 hotels, 85.7% built before 1990 (avg. year 1988), concentrated along Avenue of the Stars. Hotel ADA litigation risk is extreme in Century City, with settlements reaching $52K — accessible room count deficiency is the leading trigger. Century City's 10.8% disability rate and 13.4% senior population create above-average demand for accessible hotels. Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) oversees ADA compliance for Century City's hotels, with 4 local programs supporting accessibility upgrades.
Hotel Building Stock in Century City
Century City's Avenue of the Stars corridor has 85.7% pre-1990 hotels with an average build year of 1988, making accessible room count deficiency especially common.
An analysis of hotel properties in Century City, including building age, square footage, and key commercial corridors.
9
Hotel Properties
2.49M
Total Sq Ft
85.7%
Built Before 1990
1988
Avg Year Built
Typical Era: 1966 (reopened 2021)
Key Corridors
Century Park East / Century Plaza Cluster
Home to the Century Plaza Towers (1975, ~2.3M SF twin office towers), the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel (1966, reopened 2021 as part of a $2.5B mixed-use redevelopment with 400 rooms), and Century Park Plaza office building (1972, 373,900 SF). This cluster concentrates the district's largest pre-1990 floor area. ADA risk centers on campus-scale routing between towers, hotel, structured parking, and passenger loading zones. Elevated plazas, porte-cochère grade transitions, and legacy garage-to-lobby accessible routes are recurring compliance concerns.
Showing corridors most relevant to Hotels. 6 total corridors in Century City.
Notable Buildings
Century Park Plaza
Century Park East
Built 1972
373,900 sq ft
Fairmont Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Built 1966
ADA Litigation Risk for Hotel in Century City
With a extreme litigation risk and settlements reaching $52K, hotels in Century City face significant ADA exposure — Hotels operating in California—particularly in Los Angeles County—face **extreme** litigation risk.
Litigation Risk Level
extreme
Hotels operating in California—particularly in Los Angeles County—face **extreme** litigation risk. The combination of federal ADA Title III exposure, California's Unruh Civil Rights Act ($4,000 minimum statutory damages per violation per visit), and aggressive serial plaintiff activity creates a uniquely hostile litigation environment. Hotels present an outsized target surface because they must comply with accessible room ratio requirements, reservation system accessibility rules (28 CFR §36.302(e)), pool and spa lift mandates, common area access standards, and website accessibility for online booking—each representing an independent avenue for lawsuits. The DOJ has specifically and repeatedly targeted hotels in enforcement sweeps, including the landmark 2024 Marriott settlement and the 2021 Southern California 27-hotel initiative.
Typical Settlement Range
$2,500 – $51,500
Most Targeted Property Types
Plaintiff Firms Targeting Hotels
| Firm | Focus | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| So Cal Equal Access Group (Jason Kim, Jason Yoon) | Physical access barriers, hotels, retail | 2,598 federal ADA Title III lawsuits in 2024 alone |
| Potter Handy LLP / Center for Disability Access | Hotel reservation websites | 565+ hotel-specific cases |
| Theresa Brooke / Peter Strojnik (The Strojnik Firm LLC) | Hotel parking, loading zones, physical access | 168 hotel cases in LA/Beverly Hills area |
| Orlando Garcia | Hotel reservation system compliance | Hundreds of similar lawsuits in California; lost and ordered to pay $57,604.90 in fees in *Garcia v. Zarco Hotels* |
| Traci Morgan | Hotel website accessibility | Serial plaintiff; lost and ordered to pay $55,414.84 in fees in *Morgan v. Zarco Hotels* |
ADA Violations & Risk Profile for Hotels
Accessible Room Count Deficiency
Hotels must provide a specific number of mobility-accessible guest rooms proportional to total room inventory. Many older hotels, especially pre-1990 properties, lack the required number. For example, a 100-room hotel needs 5 total accessible rooms (4 without roll-in showers + 1 with roll-in shower).
Under ADA §224.2 and CBC 11B-224.2, the required number of accessible guest rooms scales with total room inventory: Rooms without roll-in showers must provide either an accessible bathtub (CBC 11B-607) or a transfer-type shower (CBC 11B-608.2.1). Roll-in shower rooms must have a standard or alternate roll-in shower (CBC 11B-608.2.2/11B-608.2.3) with a folding seat.
Non-Compliant or Missing Accessible Parking
Parking lots must contain the minimum number of accessible spaces. California requires 2 accessible spaces per 25 total (stricter than the federal 1 per 25). One in every six accessible spaces must be van-accessible. Hotels frequently fail on slope, striping, signage, access aisle width, or proximity to entrance.
An unbroken accessible route must connect from the accessible parking spaces and passenger loading zones through the hotel entrance, lobby, front desk, elevators (if applicable), and corridors to all accessible guest rooms and common areas (pool, fitness center, restaurant, meeting rooms). Routes must maintain 36" minimum clear width (48" preferred), have compliant thresholds (½" maximum), proper door hardware, and elevator cab dimensions per ADA §407. *
Exterior and Interior Path-of-Travel Barriers
Accessible routes must connect parking areas through the lobby to accessible guest rooms without barriers. Common deficiencies include uneven surfaces, excessive slope/cross-slope, lack of detectable warnings, non-compliant thresholds, and missing curb ramps. Hotels with multi-building layouts and older construction are especially vulnerable.
Pool Lift and Spa Accessibility Deficiency
All hotel pools and spas must have fixed pool lifts or sloped entries since January 31, 2013. Pool lifts must accommodate 300+ lbs, submerge to 18" minimum, have a seat height of 17–19", and be independently operable. Many hotels still lack compliant lifts or have non-functional equipment. Pool lift lawsuits are particularly prolific in California.
All hotel pools require at least one accessible means of entry—typically a fixed pool lift or sloped entry. Spas require a pool lift, transfer wall, or transfer system. Pool lifts must be fixed to the deck, accommodate 300+ lbs, have operable controls from the deck and water, and be independently usable without staff assistance.
Bathroom/Shower Non-Compliance in Accessible Rooms
Accessible guest room bathrooms must meet exact specifications for roll-in or transfer showers, grab bar placement, turning radius, toilet clearance, sink height, and door swing. Hotels with 51+ rooms must provide a specific number of roll-in shower rooms. CASp inspectors verify measurements down to the inch—a grab bar off by one inch triggers a violation.
Website and Reservation System Non-Compliance
Hotels must identify and describe accessible features on their reservation websites in sufficient detail for guests to independently assess whether rooms meet their needs. Accessible rooms must be bookable during the same hours and in the same manner as other rooms, held for disabled guests until all other rooms of that type are sold, and guaranteed when reserved. Potter Handy alone filed 565+ lawsuits targeting hotel reservation websites. The 2024 Marriott DOJ settlement expanded requirements to include OTA availability and loyalty-point bookability.
The DOJ's Reservation Rule (28 CFR §36.302(e)) requires hotels to: Allow guests with disabilities to reserve accessible rooms during the same hours and in the same manner as other guests Identify and describe accessible features in enough detail for independent assessment Hold accessible rooms for disabled guests until all other rooms of that type are sold Guarantee the specific accessible room reserved Make accessible rooms available on third-party OTAs (per 2024 Marriott settlement position) Allow booking of accessible rooms using loyalty program points (per 2024 Marriott settlement position)
Communication Features Deficiency
A percentage of guest rooms must include communication features for deaf or hard-of-hearing guests: visual alarms connected to the fire alarm system, visual notification devices for telephone calls and door knocks, TTY devices on request, and closed captioning on televisions. Hotels must also maintain a TTY at the front desk. Not more than 10% of mobility-accessible rooms can double as communication rooms.
Hotels must provide guest rooms with communication features (visual alarms, visual notification devices for telephone/door, TTY capability) per ADA §809 and CBC 11B-806.3. Not more than 10% of mobility-accessible rooms may simultaneously satisfy communication feature requirements. Hotels must also provide TTY devices at the front desk and on request for guest rooms, and staff must be trained in TTY operation.
Front Desk/Service Counter Height Non-Compliance
Hotel registration/service counters must have a portion no higher than 36 inches above finished floor with a clear floor space of 30" × 48" for wheelchair approach. Many older hotel front desks are built at 42"–44" heights with no lowered section.
Service counters must include an accessible portion no higher than 36 inches with 30" × 48" clear floor space. Many pre-ADA hotel front desks, typically 42"–44" high, require modification. The ADA-compliant range for work surfaces is 28–34 inches with a minimum 27" knee clearance.
$4,000 (Cal. Civ. Code §52)
Unruh Civil Rights Act statutory minimum damages per violation
10,773,117 SF across ~20 professional office buildings
Century City office inventory (buildings >50K SF)
42 years (typical vintage ~late 1970s)
Average age of Century City office buildings (as of 2019)
~75–85%
Estimated share of commercial floor area built before 1990
88 identified buildings (LADBS 2018)
Non-ductile concrete buildings in Council District 5 (includes Century City)
A CASp (Certified Access Specialist) inspection provides the strongest available litigation shield under California law. Property owners who obtain a CASp inspection qualify for Qualified Defendant status under Cal. Civ. Code §55.51, which triggers a 90-day automatic court stay upon being sued, an early evaluation conference, and eligibility for a 75% reduction in statutory damages—from the $4,000 Unruh minimum down to $1,000 per violation under Cal. Civ. Code §55.56. This structured mitigation pathway converts ADA risk from an unpredictable liability into a manageable, documented compliance process.
Who Needs Accessible Hotels in Century City
Century City's 10.8% disability rate and 13.4% senior population create high demand for accessible hotels.
10.8%
Residents with Disabilities
13.4%
Residents 65+
73,065
Veterans
Accessible accommodations serve traveling populations with disabilities and mobility needs.
Cost vs. Risk for Hotels in Century City
With hotel ADA settlements in Century City ranging from $3K to $52K and 8 documented violation categories, a proactive CASp inspection is the most cost-effective protection.
A CASp inspection costs a fraction of a single ADA lawsuit settlement.
Inspection Cost
$2,500–$5,000
5-8 hours on-site
Typical Settlement
$3K–$52K
Based on Century City data
Protection Value
1:12
Return on compliance investment
Building Department & Permit Requirements
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) in Century City oversees ADA compliance for 9 hotels — CBC Chapter 11B (California Building Standards Code); LADBS plan check applies 11B framework for commercial alterations.
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
City of Los Angeles jurisdiction — Century City is a neighborhood within LA, not an independent city. LADBS handles building permits and code plan review; LA Department of City Planning handles zoning/Specific Plan clearances.
| Current accessibility code | CBC Chapter 11B (California Building Standards Code); LADBS plan check applies 11B framework for commercial alterations |
| Path-of-travel trigger | CBC Section 11B-202.4 — alterations affecting an area of primary function trigger accessible path-of-travel upgrades (entrance, route, restrooms, parking) |
Local Programs & Resources
4 local programs
Safe Sidewalks LA Rebate Program
City of Los Angeles program offering rebates for sidewalk repairs, including accessibility-related work. Subject to funding limits and waitlist-style constraints—private projects should not rely on rebates to offset right-of-way accessibility costs without confirming current availability.
LA County Small Business Mobility Fund
Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity program supporting improvements that may include accessibility and mobility-related upgrades for small businesses. Subject to eligibility requirements and funding rounds.
License #991
State-Certified Accessibility Specialist
Built Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
MS Structural Engineering · Tutor Perini
Qualified Defendant Status
Reduces statutory damages 75% with 90-day litigation stay
Jose Rubio
Certified Access Specialist
CASp #991Jose Rubio brings over 15 years of structural engineering and construction experience to every CASp inspection. He built Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with Tutor Perini and holds an MS in Structural Engineering.
View full credentials →Frequently Asked Questions
Protect Your Century City Hotel
Schedule a CASp inspection and activate Qualified Defendant status under California Civil Code §55.56.