USDA Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center Facilities Toolbox: Accessibility Tools

Must all new or reconstructed facilities be accessible?

Yes—in accordance with the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968, all new or reconstructed facilities that are built, bought, rented, or leased by or on behalf of a Federal agency are to be accessible, with few exceptions.

The accessible Ashland Ranger District office was
constructed in 1998. The former office, built in 1936,
is barely visible on the hill in the upper right corner of the photo.

Forest: Custer
District: Ashland
Region: 1

Forest Service Handbook 7309.11.34.16.1.g details a few very specific exemptions to accessibility requirements in new and existing Forest Service buildings. These include observation galleries, mechanical equipment rooms, and spaces or facilities designed for use by employees needing considerable dexterity and special abilities. Please check the Forest Service Handbook for details about these limited exceptions.