New federal requirements could
affect how you build or remodel multifamily
housing. The Federal Fair
Housing Amendments Act, which
took effect last March, adds handicapped
to the classes protected by
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of
1968, which had included race, religion,
sex, and national origin.
The Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) was
authorized to issue regulations and to
implement the new rules.
A "handicap" is defined as a "physical
or mental impairment which substantially
limits one or more of such
person's major life activities, a record
of having such an impairment, or
being regarded as having such an
impairment."
Under this fair housing law, discrimination
in the sale, rental, or
advertising of dwellings based on
handicap is now