FAIR HOUSING ACT DESIGN MANUAL - A MANUAL TO ASSIST DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS - IN MEETING THE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by dhado

Fair Housing Act Design Manual provides designers and builders with practical guidance for meeting accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act. It explains how Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibits discriminatory housing practices and details how the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act expands coverage to disability and familial status. The manual outlines design and construction obligations for new multifamily housing, including accessible entrances, usable public and common areas, compliant doors, accessible routes, and features such as grab-bar provisions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages334

Reading Time14 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

INTRODUCTION

THE FAIR HOUSING ACT

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS OF THE GUIDELINES

Chapter One: REQUIREMENT 1 – Accessible Building Entrance on an Accessible Route

Chapter Two: REQUIREMENT 2 – Accessible and Usable Public and Common Use Areas

Chapter Three: REQUIREMENT 3 – Usable Doors

Chapter Four: REQUIREMENT 4 – Accessible Route into and Through the Covered Unit

Chapter Five: REQUIREMENT 5 – Light Switches, Electrical Outlets, Thermostats, and Other Environmental Controls in Accessible Locations

Chapter Six: REQUIREMENT 6 – Reinforced Walls for Grab Bars

Chapter Seven: REQUIREMENT 7 – Usable Kitchens and Bathrooms

APPENDICES

FAIR HOUSING ACT DESIGN MANUAL A MANUAL TO ASSIST DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS IN MEETING THE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office of Housing FAIR HOUSING ACT DESIGN MANUAL A MANUAL TO ASSIST DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS IN MEETING THE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT designed and developed by Barrier Free Environments, Inc. Raleigh, North Carolina for The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and the Office of Housing Contract \# 15903 August 1996 Revised April 1998 Project Director Project Manager Technical Assistance Authorship Architectural Design and Conceptual Illustration Graphic Design Illustration Photography Acknowledgements CREDITS Ronald L. Mace, FAIA Leslie C.Young Cheryl Kent , FHEO, HUD Leslie C.Young Ronald L. Mace Geoff Sifrin Ronald L. Mace Leslie C.Young Rex J. Pace Geoff Sifrin Christopher A. B. McLachlan Rex J. Pace Mark Pace Kelly Houk Leslie C.Young Creation of this design manual involved the close cooperation of many people. Among them are the reviewers and technical staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including Cheryl Kent, Judy Keeler, Merle Morrow, Alan Rothman, Nelson Carbonell, and Gail Williamson. Special appreciation to the Barrier Free Environments, Inc. staff who contributed to this publication, including Leslie Young, Rex Pace, and Ron Mace. Special thanks also to Geoff Sifrin in South Africa and Lucy Harber. Every attempt was made with this project to provide a concise and easy-to-follow guide on the construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act. Our hope is that the construction and disability communities to whom this manual is directed will be able to use and benefit from our efforts. CONTENTS Part One page 1 Part Two page 1.1 page 2.1 page 3.1 page 4.1 page 5.1 page 6.1 page 7.1 page 7.31 Part Three page A.1 page B.1 page C.1 INTRODUCTION DESIGN REQUIREMENTS OF THE GUIDELINES Chapter One: REQUIREMENT 1 – Accessible Building Entrance on an Accessible Route Chapter Two: REQUIREMENT 2 – Accessible and Usable Public and Common Use Areas Chapter Three: REQUIREMENT 3 – Usable Doors Chapter Four: REQUIREMENT 4 – Accessible Route into and Through the Covered Unit Chapter Five: REQUIREMENT 5 – Light Switches, Electrical Outlets, Thermostats, and Other Environmental Controls in Accessible Locations Chapter Six: REQUIREMENT 6 – Reinforced Walls for Grab Bars Chapter Seven: REQUIREMENT 7 – Usable Kitchens and Bathrooms PART A: Usable Kitchens ■ PART B: Usable Bathrooms ■ APPENDICES ■ Product Resources and Selected References ■ Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines ■ Supplemental Notice: Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines: Questions and Answers About the Guidelines Part One INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION THE FAIR HOUSING ACT Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. In 1988, Congress passed the Fair Housing Amendments Act. The Amendments expand coverage of Title VIII to prohibit discriminatory housing practices based on disability1 and familial status. Now it is unlawful to deny the rental or sale of a dwelling unit to a person because that person has a disability. As a protected class, people with disabilities are unique in at least one respect because they are the only minority that can be discriminated against solely by the design of the built environment. The Fair Housing Act remedies that in part by establishing design and construction requirements for multifamily housing built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. The law provides that a failure to design an

FAQs

What does the Fair Housing Act prohibit?

It prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings based on protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and—through the 1988 amendments—disability and familial status.

Which housing types do the design and construction requirements apply to?

The requirements apply to new multifamily housing consisting of four or more dwelling units.

What is the purpose of the manual for designers and builders?

It provides a concise, easy-to-follow guide to construction and design requirements so covered multifamily dwellings include accessible design features and better serve people with disabilities.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by dhado