Do the Fair Housing Acts design and construction requirements apply to alteration or renovation of properties?
No, alterations, rehabilitation or repair of covered multifamily dwellings are not covered because the Act’s design and construction requirements only apply to new construction of buildings built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. However, a covered multifamily dwelling that has been constructed to comply with the law cannot later be altered to make it non-compliant with the law. Additions of four or more units are covered by the design and construction requirements. Fair Housing Act Design Manual, page 11, Supplement to Notice of Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines: Questions and Answers about the Guidelines, 59 FR 33362-33368, June 28, 1994, questions 4 and 9.
Related Questions
- Why are there so many new townhouse developments? Doesn the Fair Housing Acts design and construction requirements prohibit them?
- Do the Fair Housing Acts design and construction requirements apply to alteration or renovation of properties?
- Does the Fair Housing Acts design and construction requirements require fully accessible units?
