Public accommodations

Public accommodations, in US law, are generally defined as facilities, both public and private, used by the public. Examples include retail stores, rental establishments, and service establishments as well as educational institutions, recreational facilities, and service centers. Public accommodations, in US law, are generally defined as facilities, both public and private, used by the public. Examples include retail stores, rental establishments, and service establishments as well as educational institutions, recreational facilities, and service centers. Under US federal law, public accommodations must be accessible to the disabled and may not discriminate on the basis of 'race, color, religion, or national origin.' Private clubs were specifically exempted under federal law as well as religious organizations. The definition of public accommodation within the Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is limited to 'any inn, hotel, motel, or other establishment which provides lodging to transient guests' and so is inapplicable to churches. Section 12187 of the ADA also exempts religious organizations from public accommodation laws, but religious organizations are encouraged to comply. Various US states have nonuniform laws that provide for nondiscrimination in public accommodations.