TSAHC's mission is to provide affordable, healthy and quality housing for every Texan. Making homes accessible is a vital component of this. Whether our local partners are renovating homes through our ACT Land Bank or building apartment complexes with private activity bonds, TSAHC requires them to meet the following accessibility standards.   

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Often considered only applicable to public spaces and offices, Title II and  Title III of the ADA apply to all housing financed  , built or remodeled by public agencies and nonprofits. Many of the accessibility standards for ADA are also part of the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines.  

Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines

These guidelines apply to all apartment homes (4+ units) built or renovated after 1991. The Fair Housing Act Design Manual offers an in-depth description of these standards, among the most complete and detailed in the industry. Many of these standards are also being applied to single family homes when public financing is used.  

Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS)

The State of Texas has adopted its own accessibility standards, which are published by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. While the TAS standards are not specifically required by TSAHC, many of the projects we finance are because they utilize state funding provided by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 

What We Recommend   

To cut through some of the confusion of all the above standards, TSAHC generally asks our local partners and borrowers to apply the following common sense guidelines on every project.

• All new construction should meet both ADA and Fair Housing Accessibility Standards, regardless whether we're working with single family homes or apartments.

• Standard accessibility features include:

• At least one no-step entrance (no stairs) to the main living area.

• Electrical outlets should be at least 18 inches above the floor and light switches should be no higher than 48 inches.

• Walls around toilets, bath tubs and showers should be reinforced to accept grab bars, if needed in the future. 

• All doors should be at least 32 inches clear (including thickness of door) for ease of access by persons in wheel chairs. 

• At least one bedroom and bathroom should be located on the first floor of the building.

• When renovating existing homes all planned work should meet ADA accessibility standards once completed. For example, if carpet is replaced, the new material should meet ADA standards for ease of rolling, or substituted with sheet vinyl or hard wood flooring.  

If you're uncertain about which accessibility standards may apply, feel free to give us a call to discuss your project and let us help you find a qualified accessibility design specialist to answer your more detailed questions.