Hire an access professional to inspect your entrance

The type of access professional you need will depend on the changes you need to make your entrance accessible. 

Hiring the right person up front can save you time and money later on.

Look at your entrance and see if:

• Your entrance has 1 or more steps
• The sidewalk in front of your entrance slopes or is at a sharp angle or incline
• There any structural barriers to the entrance like pillars
• There any visible barriers to the entrance like narrow doorways
• Your door is heavier than average

If any of those describe your entrance, you should hire a licensed architect or engineer with accessibility experience, or a CASp with an architectural license.

If your entrance does not have significant structural barriers, you may hire a CASp without design or construction experience.

If you know a licensed architect or engineer with accessibility experience, or have a referral, call them.

The Office of Small Business keeps a list of CASp inspectors who serve San Francisco. Otherwise, search the California Division of State Architects database. Call inspectors who serve San Francisco.

Ask about their experience as it relates to your needs:

• Have they conducted any entrance inspections for the ABE?
• How many CASp inspections have they done in San Francisco?
• Do they have experience in construction?
• Do they have experience in architectural design?
• Have they worked with the SF Planning Department?
• Have they worked with the SF Public Works Bureau of Street-Use & Mapping?

Ask for references you can call to learn more.

After you find the right professional, hire them to complete your evaluation.