I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4202 
To require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and 
town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with 
disabilities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 15, 2007 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. BRADY of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. HINCHEY, 
Mr. KIRK, Mr. WYNN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. FARR, Mr. WALSH of New 
York, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. BORDALLO, and Mr. MCGOVERN) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Fi-
nancial Services 
A BILL 
To require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single- 
family houses and town houses to meet minimum stand-
ards of visitability for persons with disabilities. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Inclusive Home Design 
Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
(1) ACCESSIBLE ROUTE.—The term ‘‘accessible 
route’’ means a continuous unobstructed path that— 
(A) can be negotiated by a person with a 
disability using a wheelchair; and 
(B) is safe for and usable by people with 
other disabilities and people without disabilities. 
(2) COVERED
DWELLING
UNIT.—The term 
‘‘covered dwelling unit’’ means a dwelling unit 
that— 
(A) is a detached single family house, a 
townhouse or multi-level dwelling unit (whether 
detached or attached to other units or struc-
tures), or a ground-floor unit in a building of 
three or fewer dwelling units; 
(B) is designed as, or intended for occu-
pancy as, a residence; 
(C) was designed, constructed, or commis-
sioned, contracted or otherwise arranged for de-
sign or construction, by any person or entity 
who, at any time during the design or construc-
tion, received Federal financial assistance for 
any program or activity; and 
(D) is made available for first occupancy 
after the expiration of the one-year period be-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
ginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) ENVIRONMENTAL
CONTROLS.—The term 
‘‘environmental controls’’ means, for a dwelling unit, 
any switches or devices that control or regulate 
lights, temperature, fans, doors, security system fea-
tures, or any other feature included in the new con-
struction of the unit. 
(4) FEDERAL
FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.—The 
term ‘‘Federal financial assistance’’ means— 
(A) any assistance that is provided or oth-
erwise made available by the Secretary of Hous-
ing and Urban Development or the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, or any program or activity or 
such agencies, through any grant, loan, con-
tract, or any other arrangement, after the expi-
ration of the one-year period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, including— 
(i) grants, subsidies, or any other 
funds; 
(ii) services of Federal personnel; 
(iii) real or personal property or any 
interest in or use of such property, includ-
ing— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
(I) transfers or leases of the 
property for less than the fair market 
value or for reduced consideration; 
and 
(II) proceeds from a subsequent 
transfer or lease of the property if the 
Federal share of its fair market value 
is not returned to the Federal Govern-
ment; 
(iv) any tax credit, mortgage or loan 
guarantee or insurance; and 
(v) community development funds in 
the form of obligations guaranteed under 
section 108 of the Housing and Commu-
nity Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
5308); or 
(B) any assistance that is provided or oth-
erwise made available by the Secretary of Agri-
culture under title V of the Housing Act of 
1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.). 
(5) PERSON OR ENTITY.—The term ‘‘person or 
entity’’ includes one or more individuals, corpora-
tions (including not-for-profit corporations), partner-
ships, associations, labor organizations, legal rep-
resentatives, mutual corporations, joint-stock compa-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
nies, trusts, unincorporated associations, trustees, 
trustees in cases under title 11 of the United States 
Code, receivers, and fiduciaries. 
SEC. 3. VISITABILITY REQUIREMENT. 
It shall be unlawful for any person referred to in sec-
tion 2(2)(C) with respect to a covered dwelling unit to fail 
to ensure that such dwelling unit contains at least one 
level that complies with the following requirements: 
(1) ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the level shall contain at 
least one entrance to the dwelling unit that— 
(i) is accessible to, and usable by, peo-
ple with disabilities such that all rooms on 
the level are connected by an accessible 
route; 
(ii) does not contain any steps or any 
door threshold that exceeds one-half inch 
in height; and 
(iii) is located on a continuous unob-
structed path from the public street or 
driveway that serves the unit, which 
path— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
(I) at no point has a slope ex-
ceeding one inch in rise for every 12 
inches in length; 
(II) has a width of not less than 
36 inches; 
(III) has a cross slope not great-
er than two percent of the width; 
(IV) is an accessible route; and 
(V) may include curb ramps, 
parking access aisles, walks, and 
ramps. 
(B) 
EXCEPTIONS.—The 
provisions 
of 
clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall 
not apply to a covered dwelling unit if— 
(i) the finished grade of the site is too 
steep to provide a path having a slope 
meeting the requirements of subclause (I) 
of subparagraph (A)(iii) at the front, side, 
or back of the unit; 
(ii) there is no driveway serving the 
unit; and 
(iii) there is no alley or other roadway 
capable of providing vehicular access to the 
rear of the unit. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
(2) ACCESSIBLE INTERIOR DOORS.—All doors 
that are designed to allow passage within the level 
shall have an unobstructed opening of at least 32 
inches when the door is open at a 90-degree angle. 
(3) ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS.— 
All environmental controls located on the level shall 
be located on the wall— 
(A) at least 15 inches, but not more than 
48 inches, above the floor; or 
(B) in the case of environmental controls 
located directly above a counter, sink, or appli-
ance, not more than three inches above such 
counter, sink, or appliance. 
(4) ACCESSIBLE HABITABLE SPACE AND BATH-
ROOM.—The level shall contain the following: 
(A) HABITABLE SPACE.—At least one in-
door room that has an area of not less than 70 
square feet and contains no side or dimension 
narrower than seven feet. 
(B) BATHROOM.—At least one bathroom 
that contains, at a minimum, the following: 
(i) CLEAR FLOOR SPACE.—Clear floor 
space of 30 by 48 inches centered on and 
contiguous to the sink, which is not en-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
croached by the swing path of the bath-
room door. 
(ii) ACCESSIBLE SINK AND TOILET.— 
A sink and a toilet that each allow for a 
parallel or head-on approach by a person 
in a wheelchair. 
(iii) REINFORCED WALLS.—Walls that 
are reinforced to be capable of supporting 
grab bars that resist shear and bending 
forces of a minimum of 250 pounds, as fol-
lows: 
(I) All walls adjacent to the toilet 
shall have horizontal backing rein-
forcements, each at least 33 inches, 
but not more than 36 inches, above 
the floor, and sufficient to allow for a 
24-inch grab bar on the wall behind 
the toilet and another 42-inch grab 
bar. 
(II) If a bathtub is present in the 
bathroom, such reinforcements shall 
include (aa) two backing reinforce-
ments on the back wall of the bath-
tub, each at least 24 inches long and 
not more than 24 inches from the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
head end wall and not more than 12 
inches from the foot end wall, one in 
a horizontal position at least 33 
inches, but not more than 36 inches, 
above the floor, and one 9 inches 
above the rim of the bathtub, (bb) one 
backing reinforcement on the foot end 
wall of the bathtub, at least 24 inches 
long and located at the front edge of 
the bathtub, and (cc) one backing re-
inforcement on the head end wall of 
the bathtub, at least 12 inches long 
and located at the front edge of the 
bathtub. 
(III) If a shower is present in the 
bathroom, such reinforcements shall 
include backing reinforcements on at 
least two walls on which the control 
valve is not located, each at least 33 
inches, but not more than 36 inches, 
above the floor. 
SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AS-
SISTANCE.—Each applicant for Federal financial assist-
ance shall submit an assurance to the Federal agency re-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:11 Nov 19, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4202.IH
H4202
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS