Legal Definitions - public accommodation

A public accommodation refers to a privately owned establishment that offers goods, services, or facilities to the general public. These establishments are legally required to serve all members of the public without unlawful discrimination based on protected characteristics, such as race, religion, national origin, sex, or disability. The purpose of these laws is to ensure equal access to everyday places and services for everyone.

Here are some examples illustrating what constitutes a public accommodation:

• A Local Bookstore: Imagine a new independent bookstore opens in a neighborhood, advertising its wide selection of books and a cozy reading area to the entire community. A person using a wheelchair attempts to enter but finds the only entrance has a steep set of stairs with no ramp or accessible alternative. The bookstore is a public accommodation because it is a privately owned business offering goods (books) and facilities (reading area) to the general public. Under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it must provide reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, meaning the lack of a ramp could be a violation preventing equal access to its services.

• An Online Travel Booking Website: Consider a popular website that allows users to book flights, hotels, and rental cars from various providers. A user who is visually impaired attempts to use the site but discovers that its interface is not compatible with their screen reader software, making it impossible to navigate the pages or complete a booking. While traditionally "public accommodation" referred to physical spaces, modern legal interpretations often extend this concept to digital spaces that serve the public. This online travel booking platform is a public accommodation because it provides a service (travel arrangements) to the general public. Its inaccessibility to users relying on screen readers could be seen as discriminatory, preventing equal access to its services for individuals with visual impairments.

• A Community Hair Salon: A privately owned hair salon in a bustling town advertises its services—haircuts, styling, coloring—to all residents. One day, a potential customer of a specific ethnic background attempts to book an appointment but is told by the receptionist that the salon "doesn't cater to their hair type," even though the salon's stylists are trained in a wide range of hair textures. The hair salon is a public accommodation because it is a privately owned business offering services (hair care) to the general public. Denying service based on a customer's ethnicity or perceived "hair type" in a discriminatory manner could violate civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination by public accommodations, as it denies equal access to services based on a protected characteristic.