US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 4151

“Building” defined

As used in this chapter, the term “building” means any building or facility (other than (A) a privately owned residential structure not leased by the Government for subsidized housing programs and (B) any building or facility on a military installation designed and constructed primarily for use by able bodied military personnel) the intended use for which either will require that such building or facility be accessible to the public, or may result in the employment or residence therein of physically handicapped persons, which building or facility is—
(1)
to be constructed or altered by or on behalf of the United States;
(2)
to be leased in whole or in part by the United States after ;
(3)
to be financed in whole or in part by a grant or a loan made by the United States after , if such building or facility is subject to standards for design, construction, or alteration issued under authority of the law authorizing such grant or loan; or
(4)
to be constructed under authority of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1960, the National Capital Transportation Act of 1965, or title III of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact.

Pub. L. 90–480, § 182 Stat. 718 Pub. L. 91–20584 Stat. 49 Pub. L. 94–541, title II, § 201(1)90 Stat. 2507 (, , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 86–66974 Stat. 537 Pub. L. 91–143, § 8(a)(1)83 Stat. 322 The National Capital Transportation Act of 1960, referred to in par. (4), is , , , which enacted sections 651, 652, 661 to 665, and 671 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and enacted provisions set out as notes under section 651 of former Title 40 and which was repealed by , , .

Pub. L. 89–17379 Stat. 663 Pub. L. 107–217, § 6(b)116 Stat. 1304 Pub. L. 91–143, § 8(a)(2)83 Stat. 323 Pub. L. 107–217, § 6(b)116 Stat. 1304 Pub. L. 89–774, § 5(b)80 Stat. 1353 The National Capital Transportation Act of 1965, referred to in par. (4), is , , . Section 1 of the Act, which was classified to a note under section 681 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, was repealed by , , . Section 2 of the Act, which was classified to section 681 of former Title 40, has been omitted from the Code. Sections 3 and 4 of the Act, which were classified to sections 682 and 683, respectively, of former Title 40, were repealed by , , . Sections 5(a) (no subsec. (b) was enacted) and 6 of the Act, which were classified to sections 684 and 685, respectively, of former Title 40, were repealed by , , . Section 7 of the Act amended provisions classified to section 662 of former Title 40, which was repealed by , , . Section 8 of the Act, which was classified to a note under section 681 of former Title 40, has been omitted from the Code.

Amendments

Pub. L. 94–5411976— inserted in parenthetical text “not leased by the Government for subsidized housing programs” after “structure” and struck out from par. (2) “, after construction or alteration in accordance with plans and specifications of the United States” after “”.

Pub. L. 91–2051970—Par. (4). added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 90–48082 Stat. 718 , , , which enacted this chapter, is popularly known as the “Architectural Barriers Act of 1968”.

Applicability of 1976 Amendment to Leases Entered Into Before, On, or After

Pub. L. 94–541, title II, § 20290 Stat. 2508

“The amendment made by paragraph (1) of section 201 of this Act [amending this section] shall not apply to any lease entered into before . It shall apply to every lease entered into on or after , including any renewal of a lease entered into before such date which renewal is on or after such date.”
, , , provided that: