Apply for a grant to make your business accessible

Your business must: 

• Be registered in San Francisco, with a 7-digit BAN 
• Be a place of public accommodation (open to the public as defined by the Federal ADA) 
• Have less than $2.5 million in annual gross revenue for a single location 
  • Have less than $8 million in gross revenue for a single business with multiple locations 
• Have a current average of 100 or fewer employees 
• Be the owner/operator of the business location 
  • Property owners may only be eligible if they also own and operate the place of public accommodation.   

Non-profits may be eligible, if they: 

• Be current with the Registry of Charitable Trusts 
• Operate a place of public accommodation 

The following are not eligible: 

• Religious organizations  
• Private club whose activities are generally not open to the general public 
• Residential short-term rentals 
• Home-based businesses (such as a home office) 
• Shared Spaces 

Eligible projects improve the physical accessibility of your business.  

• Projects for an existing business must be based on the recommendation in a CASp inspection or a Category Checklist from the Accessible Business Entrance Program. 
  • Projects for a new business making major changes to your space that require a permit, don’t need a CASp inspection, since you will already need design drawings that are ADA compliant. 
• A Building Permit is required, if applicable 

Eligible expenses can include: 

• CASp inspections 
• Equipment: generally something requires electricity to operate, such as power doors and buttons. 
• Fixtures: items permanently attached to a wall, the floor or entryway. These include bathroom bars, sink, toilets, towel dispenser, door handles or signage. 
• Architectural and/or engineering services for accessibility improvements 
• Labor for accessibility improvements: Labor and installation costs must be in compliance with San Francisco prevailing wage requirements. Learn more about them at the Office of Labor and Standards Enforcement. 
  • Permit fees, so long as the prevailing wage requirements are met. 

The grant is paid as a reimbursement. We can reimburse for eligible projects completed within the past two years.

You can apply with a quote(s) for review, before the project is complete. Quotes must be from the last 6 months. Then, once the project is done, you don’t need to submit another application. You will receive instructions from us about the project timeline and sending additional documentation by email. 

Grants will not be approved until we receive proof of payment and other details. 

We will need the following proof of the project completion: 

• Paid invoice(s) and proof of payment
  • Materials and labor cost must be itemized separately 
  • If we are reimbursing for labor: an email or letter in writing from your contractor confirming that they pay their employees and subcontractors the appropriate prevailing wage. They can also include it as part of the final paid invoice. 
  • If the accessibility project is part of a larger invoice, that portion needs to be clearly itemized 
• Clearly marked receipts 
  • Handwritten receipts must be legible, complete, and verifiable 
• Permit completion or written verification from a CASp inspector that the work complies with accessibility requirements 
  • We will check permit completion, you don’t need to send us anything for that 
• Photo(s) of the completed project 

• Basic business information 
  • Name 
  • Start date 
  • Type 
  • Owner name 
  • Contact information 
• 7-digit Business Account Number (BAN) 
• Gross annual revenue 
• Average number of employees 
• Project information 
• Documentation, such as paid invoice(s), proof of payment, photos, and/ or quote(s) 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Our ability to award a grant is dependent on both your business's eligibility, the project specifics, and funding availability. Funds for this program are limited.

The form will take about 20 minutes to fill out. 

You will get an automatic email confirmation. 

We will let you know the status of your application by email within 15 days of submission. This email may include follow-up questions and/or instructions for next steps, especially if you submitted your application with a quote. 

Projects are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, while funding lasts. 

*Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. Funding will be determined in the City’s sole discretion.