Standards to make walkways, buildings, and their amenities accessible are provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). These standards increase the ability for people with disabilities to live independently, provide inclusive opportunities and participate in the everyday activities of life.

While the ADAAG provide a national standard for accessibility, many states and local governments also have access standards. For example, the state of Illinois has the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC), while the city of Chicago's Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) also has developed accessibility standards for selected features.

In Illinois, any new construction or renovation needs to accommodate these different standards. The most stringent standards are to be followed. For example, in Illinois, the IAC standards are more stringent than ADAAG concerning counter heights. In this situation, the IAC standard would be followed. In the City of Chicago, accessible parking spaces are required to follow the Universal Design standard, which is more stringent than the ADAAG or IAC and thus would be the standard followed.