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Fair Housing Information
HUD Clears Up Guidance on Accessibility Requirements
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced at NAHB’s Spring Board that multifamily builders can rest assured they are complying with all applicable accessibility requirements when following the 2006 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and the 2003 edition of the International Code Council (ICC) A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. More information on HUD’s safe harbor endorsement can be found at www.fairhousingfirst.com.
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New Safe Harbors Announced!
HUD issues report on 2006 International Building Code and 2003 ANSI A117.1 Standard as safe harbors for compliance with the Fair Housing Act's accessibility requirements. View the report. Also available from website http://www.fairhousingfirst.org/
The conclusion from the report follows:
IV. Conclusion
Through this report, the Department is formally announcing that it has assessed the provisions of the 2006 International Building Code, as corrected by the January 31, 2007 erratum, that relate to facilities covered by the Act. HUD has determined that these provisions, when interpreted in accordance with relevant 2006 IBC commentary, are consistent with the Act, HUD's regulations, and the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines. Therefore, the 2006 IBC, as corrected by the January 31, 2007 erratum to the IBC, if adopted without modification and without waiver of any of the provisions intended to address the Fair Housing Act's design and construction requirements, constitute a safe harbor for compliance with the design and construction requirements of the Act, HUD's regulations and the Guidelines, and interpreted in accordance with relevant 2006 IBC commentary. The Department looks forward to continuing to work with members of the housing industry, persons with disabilities and advocacy organizations, model code officials, state and local governments, fair housing organizations and all other interested parties on our common goal of eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities and eliminating structural barriers to housing choice for persons with disabilities.
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Fair Housing First Accessibility First Program
Instruction, Resources, Support, Guidance All on One Website.
Website:http://www.fairhousingfirst.org
Overview of Website Materials
Technical Guidance Toll-Free # 888-341-7781 (Design and Construction Center)
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If you missed the December 5, 2006 Training Session on Fair Housing Accessibility Act in DC, you can read and download all the latest Manuals at http://www.fairhousingfirst.org/training/materials.html, including:
1. Common Design & Construction Violations & Solutions
2. The Design & Construction Requirements of the Fair Housing Act: Technical Review
3. Disability Rights Laws
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Free ICC Matrix Compares Accessibility Guidelines
The International Code Council has published a new free reference tool to give developers and architects who are working on multifamily housing more information on accessibility standards and the International Building Code (IBC).
Places of public accommodation such as rental offices are required to meet federal accessibility guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The IBC's comparison puts all of the information in one place, making it easy to see how the codes and standards relate. For more information on Americans with Disabilities applicability vs Fair Housing Accessibility Act, go to www.fairhousingfirst.org/faq/ada.html.
The 2006 IBC/ADAAG Comparison lines up three resources: the 2004 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and the 2006 IBC. The building code references the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities-2003.
Earlier this year, a similar matrix was made available by the United States Access Board referencing the 2003 IBC with 2004 Supplement. The ICC comparison, updated to the 2006 IBC, should serve a wider audience because more jurisdictions adopt the 2006 International Codes and federal agencies implement the new ADA-ABA Guidelines.
For a copy of the 2006 IBC comparison, or to download a copy of the 2003 matrix, click here. For more information, e-mail Jeff Inks at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8547.
Pocket Guide to Fair Housing Regulations on Housing for Older Persons
If you have ever wondered about the difference between "age-restricted" communities, "age-targeted" communities, and "active adult" communities, read this handy pamphlet and find out how to stay in compliance with Federal Fair Housing laws concerning older persons. This "Fair Housing Pocket Guide: Understanding the Housing for Older Persons Act Exemption" was prepared by NAHB 50+ Housing Council and NAHB's Legal Department and discussed at the Spring Board Meeting of the NAHB 50+ Housing Council Advocacy, Legislative And Rental Seniors Housing Committee.
Also at the meeting, Eric A. Berg, a construction attorney and a partner with DLA Piper Rudnick Gray, discussed "Age-Targeting: A Risky Plan." Click here for his handout on how the federal Fair Housing Act and its underlying regulations and administrative interpretations treat age-targeted advertisements.
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