Summary
California's accessibility code, which counts a religious facility as a place of public accommodation, requires religious facilities to be accessible under the code, and sets its own assistive listening rules for assembly areas.
Key findings
- The Chapter 2 definition of a place of public accommodation lists "A religious facility" among its categories, and defines a place of religious worship as a building or part of one intended for the performance of religious services.
- Section 11B-244.1 states: "Religious facilities shall be accessible in accordance with the provisions of this code"; where areas in a religious facility have more than one use, each part must meet the requirements for its use.
- Section 11B-219.2 requires an assistive listening system in assembly areas, including conference and meeting rooms, except for systems used only for paging or background music. Chapter 2 defines assembly areas as places for entertainment, educational or civic gatherings or similar purposes; its list of examples does not name worship spaces.
- Section 11B-219.3 sets receivers at 4% of the total number of seats, never fewer than two, and at least 25% of them (no fewer than two) hearing-aid compatible through neckloops. Receivers may be pooled across assembly areas in one building under one management if every receiver works with every system, and the hearing-aid-compatible minimum is dropped where an induction loop serves all seats.
- Section 11B-219.5 requires a permanently installed system where an area accommodates at least 50 people or has an audio-amplification system, and has fixed seating; a portable system may serve more than one conference or meeting room, with outlets or wiring provided for it. Where a system serves only some seats, they must be within 50 feet (15 m) of the stage and have a complete view of it (11B-219.4).
- Section 11B-216.10 requires a sign at or near each assembly area entrance reading "Assistive-Listening System Available" with the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss, or signs at ticket offices instead; section 11B-706 sets the same receiver jack, 110 to 118 dB SPL, 18 dB signal-to-noise and 18 dB peak-clipping limits as the 2010 ADA Standards.
- Chapter 11B does not mention Bluetooth, Auracast or Wi-Fi.
Limits
Applies in California to building permit applications made on or after 1 January 2026, the effective date the Commission set for the 2025 edition, which it published on 1 July 2025; it governs new construction and alterations, and how local enforcing agencies apply 11B-219 to sanctuaries was not checked. The initial reading used UpCodes because the ICC viewer did not display the text. This audit checked Chapter 11B against the archived official Division of the State Architect 2025 CBC Advisory Manual, https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/DSA/Publications/access/2025-CBC-Advisory-Manual-Triennial.pdf, which reproduces code provisions alongside separately labelled advisories. The Chapter 2 definitions were not re-audited here.
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Cited in
Cite this source
California Building Standards Commission (Chapter 11B accessibility provisions of the Division of the State Architect). 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2), Chapter 11B: 11B-219 Assistive listening systems, 11B-244 Religious facilities and 11B-706, with the Chapter 2 definitions. International Code Council (ICC Digital Codes), for the California Building Standards Commission. 1 July 2025. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/CABC2025P1/chapter-11b-accessibility-to-public-buildings-public-accommodations-commercial-buildings-and-public-housing (accessed 13 October 2026).
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