TAS Accessibility Review in Texas: RAS, TDLR & Tools
Updated July 2026 · Editorial guide by the BidReady AI team
Out-of-state contractors get surprised by Texas: accessibility here isn't just federal ADA — it's the Texas Accessibility Standards, administered by TDLR with mandatory plan review and inspection by a Registered Accessibility Specialist on qualifying projects. The process is well defined; the bid-time question is whether your pricing already reflects what TAS will require.
Quick comparison
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A Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS)
The required path: for projects subject to the Architectural Barriers Act (generally $50k+), a RAS performs the TAS plan review and post-construction inspection. TDLR's site lists registered specialists. This is compliance, not a software choice.
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BidReady AI that’s us
Audits your specs against IBC + TAS accessibility requirements — routes, clearances, restrooms, signage, hardware — with page-cited findings, so you price accessibility scope correctly and walk into the RAS review without surprises.
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TDLR TABS (project registration)
The official online system for registering qualifying projects with TDLR and tracking review/inspection status. Free to use (state filing fees apply per project).
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TAS + A117.1 reference documents
The standards themselves are free: TDLR publishes the full TAS (based on the 2010 ADA Standards, with Texas variations). Knowing the handful of TAS-vs-ADA deltas prevents detailing mistakes.
At a glance
| Option | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| A Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS) | Every qualifying Texas project — it's required | Per-project professional fees (vary by project size) |
| BidReady AI | Estimators pricing accessibility scope before bid and before RAS review | $49–$249/mo (Starter/Pro/Team) |
| TDLR TABS (project registration) | Registering projects and tracking TAS review status | Free portal; state project fees apply |
| TAS + A117.1 reference documents | Architects and superintendents detailing accessibility scope | Free |
As of July 2026. RAS fees and TDLR filing fees vary by project; verify current thresholds with TDLR.
What to look for
- Registration timing: qualifying projects must be registered with TDLR early — late registration is a common violation
- Page-cited accessibility findings from your actual spec, not a generic ADA checklist
- TAS-vs-ADA deltas: Texas has its own variations — don't detail purely from federal ADA docs
- A RAS engaged early enough that plan review comments arrive before buyout, not after
Red flags
- Assuming federal ADA compliance automatically equals TAS compliance
- Pricing accessibility scope from a previous project instead of this spec
- Skipping TDLR registration on a qualifying project — inspections catch it
- Software pitched as replacing the required RAS review (nothing does)
FAQ
What is TAS and how is it different from ADA?
The Texas Accessibility Standards are Texas's state accessibility code, administered by TDLR under the Architectural Barriers Act. TAS is based on the 2010 ADA Standards but carries Texas-specific variations and — unlike federal ADA — a mandatory state review and inspection process on qualifying projects.
When is a RAS review required in Texas?
Generally when construction costs reach $50,000 or more on a project subject to the Architectural Barriers Act: the project must be registered with TDLR, plans reviewed by a Registered Accessibility Specialist, and the completed work inspected. Verify current thresholds and exemptions with TDLR — they control.
Can software do my TAS compliance review?
No — the RAS plan review and inspection are performed by state-registered specialists and are required by law. Software helps BEFORE that: auditing specs for accessibility requirements so your bid carries the right scope and the RAS review doesn't produce expensive surprises.
What does TAS review cost?
RAS fees are professional per-project fees that scale with project size, plus TDLR filing fees. Budget them as a line item on every qualifying Texas project. (As of July 2026 — TDLR publishes current fee schedules.)
Citation-backed compliance findings, extraction, and bid-readiness scoring.