Builders Wary of “Visitability” Regulations Although the federal Fair Housing Act requires builders of some types of multifamily houses to include features designed to make them accessible to residents with disabilities, the requirements don’t apply to single-family dwellings. But recently, a number of local and municipal governments have enacted or are considering enacting rules encouraging — and in some cases requiring — builders to provide a basic level of disabled access to new homes within their jurisdictions. Unlike the extensive requirements of the Fair Housing Act, local regulations typically focus on features aimed at permitting disabled people to safely and conveniently visit a home, even if further modifications might be needed to accommodate a disabled resident. According to Eleanor Smith, a disabled rights activist
