“While no visitability standard for single-family housing has been established, several benchmark minimum requirements generally are accepted,” the report says.
They include:
- “No step” entrance
- 32-inch or wider interior doors
- 36-inch or wider hallways
- One entry-level bathroom to accommodate an individual using a wheelchair, with blocking in the wall for installation of grab bars, if desired
- Light switches, outlets and environmental controls such as thermostats within reach of someone sitting in a wheelchair or scooter.
The report notes that seven states and a number of local jurisdictions have now passed ordinances that require homes built with government financing assistance to be visitable. Others are considering similar proposals.
Ordinances in at least two jurisdictions extend visitability requirements to all new single-family construction.
Federal legislation introduced in Congress last year proposed that all housing constructed with any federal government assistance or under federal programs be required to incorporate the visitability features listed above.
NAHB policy opposes mandatory requirements for accessible design features in new, single-family construction and remodeling.
[ Go to Top ]