Kept Record

California's Unruh Civil Rights Act makes every ADA violation a violation of state law too, and sets a minimum money award for each one.

The Unruh Civil Rights Act is a California statute against discrimination by business establishments, including on the basis of disability. It does not mention websites. Its weight in web accessibility claims comes from two provisions: one that folds the ADA into it, and one that sets statutory damages.

What it is

The Act is two sections of the California Civil Code: one sets out the right, the other the remedies.

Section 51 of the Civil Code is known as the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Cal. Civ. Code § 51(a), Section 51 as amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 779, effective 1 January 2025.

It entitles everyone, whatever their disability among other characteristics, to full and equal treatment in all business establishments.

in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever Cal. Civ. Code § 51(b), Section 51 as amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 779, effective 1 January 2025.

Disability takes its meaning from California's employment and housing law in the Government Code.

any mental or physical disability as defined in Sections 12926 and 12926.1 Cal. Civ. Code § 51(e)(1), Section 51 as amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 779, effective 1 January 2025.

The link to the ADA

This is the provision that brings federal disability law into a California claim.

A violation of anyone's rights under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act is also a violation of the Unruh Act.

violation of the right of any individual under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act Cal. Civ. Code § 51(f), Section 51 as amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 779, effective 1 January 2025.

The Act does not require building work beyond what other laws already require.

that is otherwise required by other provisions of law Cal. Civ. Code § 51(d), Section 51 as amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 779, effective 1 January 2025.

Remedies

The remedies section is where the Unruh Act differs most from Title III of the ADA, which the ADA page on this site describes.

Anyone who discriminates contrary to section 51 is liable for actual damages and up to three times that amount, and in no case less than four thousand dollars, for each offense.

but in no case less than four thousand dollars ($4,000) Cal. Civ. Code § 52(a), Section 52 as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 48, effective 30 June 2022.

The liability is stated per offense.

is liable for each and every offense for the actual damages Cal. Civ. Code § 52(a), Section 52 as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 48, effective 30 June 2022.

The court may also award attorney's fees.

and any attorney's fees that may be determined by the court in addition thereto Cal. Civ. Code § 52(a), Section 52 as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 48, effective 30 June 2022.

A person may also file a complaint with California's Civil Rights Department.

may also file a verified complaint with the Civil Rights Department Cal. Civ. Code § 52(f), Section 52 as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 48, effective 30 June 2022.

Actions under section 52 are independent of any other remedy available under other law.

Actions brought pursuant to this section are independent of any other actions, remedies, or procedures Cal. Civ. Code § 52(e), Section 52 as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 48, effective 30 June 2022.

What the statute does not say

Neither section mentions websites, apps or online services, and neither defines a business establishment. Whether a website on its own is a business establishment, and whether a claim needs a connection to a physical place, are left to the courts; this page does not cite court decisions. The statute names no technical standard such as WCAG.

Sources

Every source on this page was fetched and its quotation confirmed on 27 September 2026, today. That date is written by the script that checked, not by a person.

A directive binds member states, who write it into national law. The national act can name a different authority, set a different penalty, or add duties. The sources here are the directive and three national acts; yours may differ.

Nothing on this page is about a product. The record a business keeps of its own site is its own affair, and no tool makes a site meet a law.

This page describes the law as it is written in the sources cited. It is not legal advice, it does not cover every case, and national law can add to what a directive requires. It has not been reviewed by a lawyer.

This page describes what the system does, written by the people who built it. It has not been reviewed by a lawyer.