Confirm whether the project must be registered with TDLR, which its FAQ says applies to projects with a total estimated cost of $50,000 or more, and that the design professional submits the construction documents for registration and review, since Texas Government Code Chapter 469 bars a local permit application before that submission. Then check the drawings against the 2012 TAS, effective March 15, 2012, and the technical memoranda that apply, paying attention to the Texas differences from the 2010 ADA Standards. AI can flag conflicts; the RAS, TDLR, and the design professional decide compliance.
What are the Texas Accessibility Standards?
The 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards are issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Texas Government Code Chapter 469. TAS 101.1 says the standards are intended to be consistent with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and are generally the same except where noted in italics. TDLR also publishes technical memoranda that clarify how TAS applies to topics such as emergency response facilities, multi-story buildings, employee work areas, clustered toilet rooms, private toilet and bathing rooms, sinks, dining surfaces, baby changing tables, residential amenity centers, and door and gate surfaces.
TDLR publishes the 2012 TAS free online, and its FAQ says the standards took effect March 15, 2012 and apply to projects registered, permitted, or built on or after that date. The FAQ says projects with a total estimated cost of $50,000 or more must submit a full set of construction documents for registration and review, and that smaller projects must still comply with TAS. The current memoranda are on TDLR’s technical memoranda page, where one on EV charging stations is marked withdrawn. Checked October 19, 2026.
Texas Government Code Chapter 469 sets the submission timing and requires the owner to have the building inspected after completion by TDLR or a Registered Accessibility Specialist. TDLR’s FAQ notes that registration does not confirm ADA compliance, and covered entities still answer to the Department of Justice and Department of Transportation rules. Compare the 2010 ADA Standards guide and the ICC A117.1 guide, which the local building code may also require, and see the Texas page for permitting.
Gather the accessibility set and the registration record
Collect the TDLR project registration number and estimated cost, the site plan with accessible parking, passenger loading, and the accessible route, floor plans, enlarged toilet room and kitchen plans, interior elevations, door and hardware schedules, the plumbing fixture schedule, signage plans, and the specifications for accessories, signage, and casework. Add the RAS review report from earlier submissions if there is one.
List the technical memoranda that touch the project, such as employee break rooms, dining surfaces, or residential amenity centers, so each one is checked against the sheets it affects.
Trace TAS requirements through the set
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Registration and timing | TDLR registration, cover sheet, project cost, permit application | Record whether registration is required, that the registration number appears on the set, and that submission preceded the permit application. |
| TAS edition and ADA differences | Accessibility notes, code analysis, specifications | Confirm the 2012 TAS is cited and check the italicized Texas provisions, rather than relying on the 2010 ADA Standards alone. |
| Technical memoranda | Accessibility notes, enlarged plans, schedules | List the memoranda that apply and where the drawings address each one. |
| Accessible route and parking | Site plan, civil grading, architectural plans | Trace the route from parking and passenger loading to each entrance and confirm the sheets agree. |
| Toilet rooms and fixtures | Enlarged toilet plans, elevations, fixture schedule, accessory specifications | Match fixture types, clearances shown, grab bars, and accessories across the plans, elevations, schedule, and specifications. |
| Doors and signage | Door schedule, hardware sets, signage plan | Confirm door hardware and signage on the schedules match the accessible rooms and routes on the plans. |
Route and clearance checks continue in the accessibility checklist, toilet room accessories in the toilet accessories specifications guide, and signs in the interior signage specifications guide.
Example: a break room covered by a technical memorandum
Hypothetical example. A tenant finish-out for an office in Austin registered with TDLR. The accessibility notes cite the 2010 ADA Standards only, the enlarged break room plan shows a sink and counter that the interior elevations draw at a different height, and the fixture schedule lists a sink model whose depth differs from the elevation detail.
The accessibility notes cite only the 2010 ADA Standards for a TDLR-registered project, and the break room sink and counter differ between the enlarged plan, interior elevation, and fixture schedule. Confirm the TAS basis, check the employee break room and sink memoranda, and coordinate the plan, elevation, and schedule.
The architect updates the notes and coordinates the sheets before the RAS review. The finding is a document conflict; the RAS and TDLR decide compliance.
Review Texas accessibility drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Add the 2012 TAS and the TDLR technical memoranda that apply, which TDLR publishes free, plus the 2010 ADA Standards and any licensed codes the jurisdiction also requires. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the cover sheet registration data, accessibility notes, site plan, civil grading, floor plans, enlarged toilet and kitchen plans, interior elevations, door and hardware schedules, fixture schedule, signage plans, and specifications. Flag a missing TDLR registration number, notes that cite the ADA Standards without TAS, applicable technical memoranda the drawings do not address, an accessible route that differs between sheets, and toilet room fixtures, accessories, doors, or signs that differ between plans, elevations, schedules, and specifications. Use the supplied TAS and memoranda and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets and documents involved. It does not register projects, perform RAS plan review or inspection, or measure field conditions.
Document review does not certify TAS or ADA compliance. Those decisions remain with the Registered Accessibility Specialist, TDLR, and the design professional.