Design and Construction

The Fair Housing Act requires that covered multifamily dwellings be designed and constructed with the following accessible features:

  • The public and common use areas must be readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities;
  • All doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises of covered dwellings must be sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons with disabilities, including persons who use wheelchairs;
  • All premises within covered dwellings must contain the following features:
    • An accessible route into and through the dwelling unit;
    • Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
    • Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow for the later installation of grab bars;
    • Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual using a wheelchair can easily maneuver about and use the space