Apply for an Exemption from Carrying Out Accommodations at an Existing Public Building due to Undue Financial Burden

Attach the following documents and include the following information in your application

• an accessibility survey conducted at the building 
• if you have applied for an exemption in the past, attach the application and the Commission's response 
• a quote of the cost to carry out the accommodations

If there is a legal proceeding against you regarding the relevant accessibility accommodation attach:

• the statement of claim
• the statement of defense 
• other documents submitted to the court
• all court decisions 

•    any warning letter received regarding the accessibility accommodation
If you are applying based on undue financial burden, attach the following annual reports for the 3 years prior, approved by an accountant or a legal authority:

• Authorized dealers – attach a report of your annual turnover as defined in the Value Added Tax Law, 5736-1975
• NGOs (amutot) – attach a report of your annual turnover as defined in the Second schedule to the Associations Law, 1980
• Companies – attach your annual financial reports as defined in the Companies Law, 5769-1999. If the turnover in any year was 0, this year will not be included in the calculation of the average income.

Include the following details in your application:

• The type of service or place you are requesting the exemption for.
• What accommodation is required - use the item name and column from the First Schedule of the Accessibility Regulations for an Existing Public Building ("Inspection and Execution Table").
•  The scope of activity at the place or the amount of users who receive the service.
•  The cost of carrying out the accessibility accommodations. 
• Your reasons for requesting exemption from making a first or second accommodation as stated in the Inspection and Execution Table. 
• Are you the owner, possessor or operator of the place you are requesting the exemption for.
• Does the accommodation require a building permit.
• If you have missed the deadline for carrying out the accommodation, an explanation why you are applying for an exemption after the deadline.
• Do you provide the same type of service or place nearby and if so, are they accessible (for example in another branch).
•  What alternative can you offer people with disabilities, if the exemption is approved (such as a stair-lift instead of an elevator). If in your opinion no alternative accommodation can be offered – why not?
• Are there any engineering problems that render the building inaccessible.
• Are there external or State sources of funding for carrying out accessibility at the building.  If so, list them and the maximum sums of support available.

The service is free of charge

You may submit your application:

• Online
• By email to [email protected].
• By fax to 02-6462881.
• By post to PO Box 36053, Jerusalem Gates Branch, Jerusalem 9136001.

You will receive a message that includes the contact details of the person handling your application at the commission.

You may need to submit additional documents, such as an opinion from a Licensed Accessibility Expert, or an architectural drawing.

A written response will be given within 60 days of submitting all the required documents.

You can find out the status of your application by contacting the person handling your application by telephone, email, fax or post.

Section 19M of the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities law.

You cannot obtain an exemption from carrying out accommodations due to undue financial burden, if the place or service is owned by any of the following bodies:

• a Government Ministry
• The Knesset
• The IDF
• Israel Police
• Israel Prison Service

World Zionist Organization
The Jewish Agency

• An entity that provides a state health service
• An official educational institution
• Bank of Israel
• Yad Vashem.
• Magen David Adom
• The National Insurance Institute
• The Standards Institute
• The Postal Authority
• The Airports Authority
• Israel Broadcasting Corporation
• The Second Television and Radio Authority
• Israel Employment Services

The following public authorities may apply for an exemption from carrying out  accommodations due to financial budget infeasibility:

• Local authorities
• Statutory corporations not specified in the previous paragraph
• Public institutions whose state participation in their budget has been over 30% on average in the last 5 years

Before contacting us for information, we recommend checking our website first.

You may also send us an enquiry, a request for information or a complaint regarding accessibility.