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.). 
(3) 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-
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(1)(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 Standards for Type C (Visit-
able) Units of the American National Standards Institute 
(ANSI) Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings 
and Facilities (1005–ICC ANSI A117.1–2009) and any 
future revisions thereto. 
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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-
sponsible for such assistance that all of its programs and 
activities will be conducted in compliance with this Act. 
(b) APPROVAL OF ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUC-
TION PLANS.— 
(1) SUBMISSION.—Any applicant for or recipi-
ent of Federal financial assistance for a covered 
dwelling unit shall submit for approval the architec-
tural and construction plans for such unit to the 
State or local department or agency that is respon-
sible, under applicable State or local law, for the re-
view and approval of construction plans for compli-
ance with generally applicable building codes or re-
quirements (in this subsection referred to as the 
‘‘appropriate State or local agency’’). 
(2) DETERMINATION OF COMPLIANCE.— 
(A) ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS.—The en-
forcement actions under this subparagraph 
are— 
(i) reviewing any plans for a covered 
dwelling unit submitted pursuant to para-
graph (1) and approving or disapproving 
such plans based upon compliance of the 
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dwelling unit with the requirements of this 
Act; and 
(ii) consistent with applicable State or 
local laws and procedures, withholding 
final approval of construction or occupancy 
of a covered dwelling unit unless and until 
such compliance is determined. 
(B) CONDITION OF FEDERAL HOUSING AS-
SISTANCE.—The Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development may not provide any Fed-
eral financial assistance under any program ad-
ministered by such Secretary to a State or unit 
of general local government (or any agency 
thereof) unless the appropriate State or local 
agency thereof is, in the determination of the 
Secretary, taking the enforcement actions under 
subparagraph (A). 
(c) CIVIL ACTION FOR PRIVATE PERSONS.— 
(1) ACTION.—Any person aggrieved by an act 
or omission that is unlawful under this Act may 
commence a civil action in an appropriate United 
States district court or State court against any per-
son or entity responsible for any part of the design 
or construction of a covered dwelling unit no later 
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than two years after the occurrence or termination 
of the alleged unlawful conduct under this Act. 
(2) LIABILITY.—In any action under this sub-
section for a violation involving architectural or con-
struction plans for a covered dwelling unit that were 
approved by the appropriate State or local depart-
ment or agency— 
(A) if such approved plans violate this Act 
and any construction on such dwelling that vio-
lates this Act was performed in accordance with 
such approved plans, such State or local depart-
ment or agency shall be liable for such con-
struction in violation; and 
(B) if such approved plans comply with 
this Act and any construction on such dwelling 
violates this Act, the person or entity respon-
sible for the construction shall be liable for such 
construction in violation. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT
BY
ATTORNEY
GENERAL.— 
Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to 
believe that any person or group of persons has violated 
this Act, the Attorney General may commence a civil ac-
tion in any appropriate United States district court. The 
Attorney General may also, upon timely application, inter-
vene in any civil action brought under subsection (c) by 
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a private person if the Attorney General certifies that the 
case is of general public importance. 
(e) RELIEF.—In any civil action brought under this 
section, if the court finds that a violation of this title has 
occurred or is about to occur, it may award to the plaintiff 
actual and punitive damages, and subject to subsection 
(g), may grant as relief, as the court finds appropriate, 
any permanent or temporary injunction, temporary re-
straining order, or other order (including an order enjoin-
ing the defendant from violating the Act or ordering such 
affirmative action as may be appropriate). 
(f) VIOLATIONS.—For purposes of this section, a vio-
lation involving a covered dwelling unit that is not de-
signed or constructed in conformity with the requirements 
of this Act shall not be considered to terminate until the 
violation is corrected. 
(g) ATTORNEY’S FEES.—In any civil action brought 
under this section, the court, in its discretion, may allow 
the prevailing party, other than the United States, a rea-
sonable attorney’s fee and costs. 
(h) EFFECT ON CERTAIN SALES, ENCUMBRANCES, 
AND RENTALS.—Relief granted under this section shall 
not affect any contract, sale, encumbrance, or lease con-
summated before the granting of such relief and involving 
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