24 C.F.R. § 8.31
§ 8.31 Historic properties. (24 CFR Part 8)
Operative Text
If historic properties become subject to alterations to which this part applies the requirements of § 4.1.7 of the standards of § 8.32 of this part shall apply, except in the case of the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) program. In the UDAG program the requirements of 36 CFR part 801 shall apply. Accessibility to historic properties subject to alterations need not be provided if such accessibility would substantially impair the significant historic features of the property or result in undue financial and administrative burdens.
Under 24 CFR Part 8 § 8.31, when federally covered alterations are made to historic properties, specific accessibility standards apply—generally those referenced in § 8.32, or, for Urban Development Action Grant projects, the standards found at 36 CFR Part 801. However, the rule carves out an exception: full accessibility does not have to be achieved if doing so would meaningfully damage the property's significant historic character or impose undue financial and administrative burdens. This provision balances disability-access requirements against the preservation of historically significant features.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of historic properties undergoing federally covered alterations should be familiar with the accessibility standards referenced in § 8.31, including the applicable provisions of § 8.32 or, for UDAG-funded projects, 36 CFR Part 801. Compliant operators typically document whether any accessibility measures would substantially impair significant historic features or create undue financial and administrative burdens before invoking the exception. Maintaining clear records of the historic-preservation analysis and any agency consultations is a practice generally associated with demonstrating compliance under § 8.31.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8.31 of 24 CFR Part 8 establishes that tenants and program participants in federally covered historic properties retain accessibility rights during alterations, subject to a narrow exception for cases where access would substantially impair significant historic features or impose undue burdens. If you believe accessibility improvements were improperly withheld under this exception, options generally available include filing a complaint with HUD or raising the issue through a fair housing organization. Tenant-rights and disability-rights organizations can help explain how § 8.31 applies in various circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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