ADA Sign Requirements Every Business Should Know

ADA signs are some of the most rule bound signs a business buys. The rules are clear once you know them, but small mistakes, such as a sign on the wrong side of the door or braille in the wrong place, are common and costly to redo.

Gogi Signs makes ADA signs for businesses across New Jersey and New York City. This guide covers which signs the rules apply to, the key dimensions, the codes your inspector uses and what happens if you get it wrong. It is general information, not legal advice.

In this guide

ADA Sign Requirements at a Glance

Source: 2010 ADA Standards, section 703, and the Access Board guide

Mounting height. Tactile characters between 48 inches above the floor, measured to the baseline of the lowest line, and 60 inches, measured to the baseline of the highest line, under section 703.4.1 of the ADA Standards.
Location. Alongside the door on the latch side, under section 703.4.2.
Raised characters. 5/8 inch to 2 inches tall, uppercase and sans serif.
Braille. Contracted Grade 2 braille, below the text.
Finish and contrast. Non glare, with light characters on a dark background or dark on light.
Pictograms. A field at least 6 inches high, with text and braille below it.

First Classify the Sign by Its Job

The rules depend on what a sign does, not what it looks like. Section 216 of the 2010 ADA Standards sorts signs into groups, explained in the Access Board guide.

Based on 2010 ADA Standards, section 216

Permanent Room and Space Identification

Signs that name a room or space that is unlikely to change, such as restrooms, offices, meeting rooms, stairs and room numbers, need raised characters, braille and the visual rules. Doors at exit stairs, exit passageways and exit discharge also need tactile signs.

Directional and Informational Signs

Signs that point the way or give information about spaces, such as a sign with arrows to the restrooms, need to meet the visual rules for character size, style and contrast. They do not need raised characters or braille.

Signs Outside the Rules

Building directories, menus, occupant names, building addresses, company names and logos, and temporary signs up for seven days or less are exempt.

Based on 2010 ADA Standards, section 216

Tactile Characters and Braille

Raised characters must be at least 1/32 inch deep, uppercase and sans serif, according to the Access Board guide. Braille goes below the text with at least 3/8 inch between them. Where a sign has separate raised and visual characters with the same information, the raised characters can be as small as 1/2 inch.

Mounting Height and Door Location

The Standards and the Access Board guide set clear rules for where a sign goes at a door:

Single door. On the wall at the latch side. If there is no wall space there, use the nearest adjacent wall.
Double door, one active leaf. On the inactive leaf.
Double door, two active leaves. To the right of the right hand door, under section 703.4.2.
Clear floor space. An 18 by 18 inch space centered on the tactile characters, outside the swing of the door.

Non glare finishes keep tactile signs readable

Exterior and Parking Signs

The rules reach outside too. Exterior signs that identify a permanent space but are not at the door of that space do not need raised characters, according to the Access Board guide. Accessible parking space signs must have their bottom edge at least 60 inches above the ground, so a parked van does not hide them. Directional signs to accessible entrances follow the visual rules.

Elevators

Elevator floor markings and car controls have their own tactile rules under a separate section of the Standards. In New Jersey, elevator identification numbers must also be at least 1 1/2 inches high in a contrasting color, as quoted by the Department of Community Affairs. Coordinate these with your elevator contractor.

Visual Readability

Visual characters must have a non glare finish and contrast with the background. Their minimum size depends on how high the sign is and how far away it is read. For signs mounted between 40 and 70 inches, characters start at 5/8 inch and grow 1/8 inch for every foot of viewing distance over six feet. Overhead signs start at 2 or 3 inches, according to the Access Board guide. Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop, explains why contrast matters in how color, contrast and message placement affect visibility.

Pictograms and Accessibility Symbols

A pictogram that identifies a room, such as a restroom symbol, needs a field at least 6 inches high, with the text descriptor and braille below it, under section 703.6. In New York City, required accessible elements must be marked with the dynamic accessibility symbol, the forward leaning wheelchair figure, according to the Department of Buildings.

Light characters on a dark background meet the contrast rule

The Codes Your Inspector Uses

Sources: NJ DCA, NYC DOB, Federal Register

New Jersey. The barrier free subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23 7, uses chapter 11 of the 2024 International Building Code and ICC A117.1 2017, adopted August 17, 2026, according to the Department of Community Affairs.
New York City. The 2022 NYC Building Code references ICC A117.1 2009, according to the Department of Buildings.
Federal. The 2010 ADA Standards apply to businesses open to the public everywhere. Read them at ADA.gov.

Our sister company in New York covers NYC signs and the symbol change in ADA signs in NYC.

What Happens If You Get It Wrong

In a Justice Department case, the maximum civil penalty under Title III of the ADA is $118,225 for a first violation and $236,451 for a later one. Those are the 2025 amounts in the Federal Register, and the department kept them for 2026, according to its 2026 notice. Private lawsuits are more common and can lead to court orders and legal fees.

Signs do come up in real cases. In 2019, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey reached a settlement with the owner of the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park that required tactile signs with raised characters and braille identifying all exits and restrooms, according to the Justice Department.

Common Errors to Prevent

Wrong side of the door. Signs on the hinge side or on the door itself.
Wrong height. Measured to the bottom of the sign instead of the baseline of the characters.
Braille in the wrong place. Above the text or inside the pictogram field.
Glossy finishes. Glare makes signs hard to read.
Serif or script fonts on tactile characters.
Missing exit stair signs. These are often forgotten.

A Better Planning Workflow

Build a sign schedule that lists every sign and its class. See interior sign planning for offices.
Approve a sample and check it against the rules before the full run.
Control substitutions. Do not let fonts, finishes or sizes change after approval.
Check the install. Measure height and location for every sign.

ADA signs can match your brand and still meet the rules

Common Questions About ADA Sign Requirements

Which signs need braille under the ADA?

Signs that identify permanent rooms and spaces, such as restrooms, offices, meeting rooms and stairs, plus exit stair and exit door signs. Directional and informational signs do not.

What height should ADA signs be mounted?

Tactile characters go between 48 inches above the floor, measured to the baseline of the lowest line, and 60 inches, measured to the baseline of the highest line.

Where does an ADA sign go next to a door?

On the wall at the latch side, with an 18 by 18 inch clear floor space outside the door swing. Double doors have their own rules.

What are the ADA fines for signs?

In a Justice Department case, the maximum is $118,225 for a first violation and $236,451 for a later one, the 2025 levels kept for 2026. Private lawsuits are more common.

What code does New Jersey use for accessible signs?

The barrier free subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23 7, which uses chapter 11 of the 2024 International Building Code and ICC A117.1 2017, adopted in August 2026.

Can ADA signs match our brand?

Yes. Colors, shapes, materials and frames can match your brand as long as the characters, braille, contrast, finish and mounting meet the rules.

Interior Signs That Pass Inspection

We build ADA signs to the Standards and install them to the inch. See our ADA signs, then request a free quote.

Sources and further reading

Tony Kamal

Tony Kamal has been making signs for two decades and works at the Gogi Signs of New Jersey shop in Linden. Since 2025 he has also been researching permit rules, materials and lighting, and he writes these guides with input from our designers, fabricators and install crews.