What certifications regarding code compliance must be provided to Black Bear Diner for the architectural renderings, plans, and specifications?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are responsible for developing the Franchised Restaurant in compliance with our system and ensuring that all plans and specifications comply with our requirements, applicable laws, and lease requirements. We will give you standard specifications and layouts for a Black Bear Diner restaurant. You must hire an architect acceptable to us to prepare your plans and make any necessary changes to our standard specifications and layout. Our acceptance of your architect will not in any way be our endorsement of your architect or render us liable for your adherence to any federal, state or local codes. You must give us, and we have the right to review and approve all plans and specifications before you begin constructing the Restaurant. You or your architect must certify to us that the architectural renderings, plans, and specifications comply with all applicable federal, state and local codes including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will perform a final inspection and provide you with a written sign-off if the build-out meets our approval. We must sign off on the final build out prior to your beginning operation of the Franchised Restaurant.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 22–26)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Black Bear Diner Franchise Disclosure Document, as a franchisee, you are responsible for ensuring that the restaurant build-out complies with Black Bear Diner's system standards, all applicable laws, and lease requirements. Black Bear Diner will provide standard specifications and layouts for the restaurant. You must hire an architect acceptable to Black Bear Diner to prepare the plans and make necessary changes to the standard specifications and layout.
Before construction begins, you must submit all plans and specifications to Black Bear Diner for review and approval. Critically, you or your architect must certify that the architectural renderings, plans, and specifications comply with all applicable federal, state, and local codes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Black Bear Diner will then perform a final inspection and provide a written sign-off if the build-out meets their approval. You cannot begin operating the Black Bear Diner restaurant until Black Bear Diner signs off on the final build-out.
This requirement ensures that all Black Bear Diner locations meet required safety and accessibility standards. The franchisee bears the responsibility of guaranteeing code compliance and providing certification, but Black Bear Diner retains the right to review and approve the plans. This process protects both the franchisee and the franchisor from potential legal issues related to non-compliance.