JOIN US/CONTRIBUTE

CONTACT

RESIZE TEXT A A A

	design & construction Design & Construction ( D&C) multi-family accessibility requirements


		Fair Housing Resources Breaking News Events / Classes Guide Books Sample Forms Brochures FAQs Videos Links Books / Movies / Plays Published Articles Special Offerings Fair Housing Month Historic Tours Jeopardy Game Anywhere But Here Poster Contest Take Fair Housing Quiz Have You Heard? About the FHCO Get Involved The Work We Do Board of Directors Staff Donors FHCO Newsletter Job Openings Other Resources Looking for a Home? Got a Home to Promote? Home Lead Hazards "Smokefree" Housing

D&C Accessibility Requirements as Part of the Federal Fair Housing Act's Disability Protection

Multi-family housing--apartment buildings, condos, etc.--constructed since March 1991 must meet certain minimum accessibility standards per federal fair housing law.

In an effort to document the multitude of accessibility requirements in the marketplace and, eventually, pinpoint the discrepancies between the Fair Housing Act's Design and Construction requirements against other commonly referred to requirements, standards, and safe harbors, the FHCO and the Community Development Law Center offer the following resource materials:

Accessible Design and Construction Handbook by the FHCO and Community Development Law Center (2010)
http://FHCO.org/pdfs/DCHandbook062010.pdf
Complexity Hinders Compliance with Federal and Oregon Accessibility Laws (2009)
www.FHCO.org/pdfs/dc_ComplexityHindersCompliance.pdf
APPENDIX A: A Matrix for Oregon and Federal Housing Accessibility Laws, In Summary Form
www.FHCO.org/pdfs/dc_ComplexityMatrix.pdf
APPENDIX B: Accessibility Worksheet for Existing Buildings, Alterations, and Additions
www.FHCO.org/pdfs/dc_ComplexityWorksheet.pdf

Following are a few helpful resources:

Accessibility Guidelines for Multi-Family Housing Built after 1988
http://fhco.org/access_guidelines.htm
Article: Close Enough May Result in a Fair Housing Lawsuit
http://www.fhco.org/pdfs/CloseEnoughDCarticle.pdf
Article: Recent Litigation, Settlements & Complaints
http://www.fhco.org/pdfs/dc_RecentCases.pdf
Fair Housing First: The Definitive Resource on D&C Requirements
http://www.fairhousingfirst.org
Fair Housing Act Design Manual (Revised April 1998, 130 pages)
http://www.huduser.org/publications/destech/fairhousing.html
Accessibility Requirements for Buildings
http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities/accessibilityR.cfm

Fair Housing/ADA/Building Codes/ANSI/etc....How They Connect - Or Not
conducted on 08/03/10.

Fair Housing/ADA/Building Codes/ANSI/etc....How They Connect - Or Not

***You will need the Adobe® Reader® software to view the documents above. Download a free copy of Adobe Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Design & Construction Webcast**
originally aired on 10/03/07

**If the webcast above does not work for you,
download the latest version of Real Player for free at www.real.com

"Builder Beware"

Don't think that your local planning or zoning officials are watching for compliance; the Fair Housing Act's requirements don't fall within their jurisdiction. You need to know both your local requirements, as well as federal accessibility minimums as set out in the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.

"Visitability"

ConcreteChange.org
http://www.concretechange.org
With goal is to make all homes "visitable," ConcreteChange.org was created by a nonprofit, non-governmental, consumer-controlled organization in Georgia. Provides interesting cost analysis for accessible features and additional resources.
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access' Universal Design and Visitability Project
http://www.udeworld.com/visitability.html
An affordable, sustainable and inclusive design approach for integrating basic accessibility features into all newly built homes and housing.
Inclusive Environments and Visitability
FHCO.org/pdfs/InclusiveEnvironmentsVisitability.pdf
Brief FHCO article introducing the idea of visitability
The Right Door For Everyone: Universal Design Resources
http://www.qualifiedhardware.com/door-design-resources.html

Other Disability-Related Issues

FHCO's Disability as a Protected Class Page http://www.fhco.org/disability.htm

If you still have questions, please contact us at 503/223-8197 Ext. 2 (Portland metro area) or 800/424-3247 Ext. 2 or information@FHCO.org.

You will need the Adobe® Reader® software to view the documents above; in addition, if you have any difficulty viewing the document, downloading the latest version may remedy the matter. Download a free copy of Adobe Reader (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) if needed.


	return to top of page


	"Thank You" The FHCO would like to thank our partners and members for their support. Their contributions and grants have helped to make the resources on this site possible. Please join them in supporting our efforts!

If you have a fair housing question, or to report a fair housing complaint, please call 503/223-8197 Ext. 2 or 800/424-3247 Ext. 2 (TTY and translation available). Alternatively, you may call HUD at 800/877-0246.

Service Area:
Office Location:
Contact:

Oregon and Southwest Washington
506 SW Sixth, Suite 1111, PORTLAND OR . 97204
information@FHCO.org .| .503/223-8197 .| .Hotline 800/424-3247 Ext. 2

The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and the publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.

D&C Accessibility Requirements as Part of the Federal Fair Housing Act's Disability Protection

"Builder Beware"

"Visitability"

Other Disability-Related Issues

"Thank You"