HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 2-25
Overview of Key Requirements (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)
Operative Text
A. Nondiscrimination and Accessibility Requirements
Under Section 504, owners must operate each existing housing project so that,
when viewed in its entirety, it is readily accessible to and usable by persons with
disabilities. This includes the following actions by owners:
1. Making modifications to policies and practices so they do not discriminate
against persons with disabilities. (See Subsection 2.)
2. Taking appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with
applicants, tenants, and the public. Owners must use requests by
persons with disabilities to determine which alterations and auxiliary aids
are necessary. (See Subsection 2.)
NOTE: HUD encourages owners to provide auxiliary aids, as necessary,
as a routine property expense. HUD assumes that requests for auxiliary
aids will not normally result in undue financial and administrative burden.
3. Taking required steps to meet the 5% threshold for units fully accessible
to persons with mobility impairments and the 2% requirement for units
accessible for persons with visual and hearing impairments. (See
Subsection 3.)
4. Making public spaces and dwelling units accessible, provided that the
changes do not result in an undue financial and administrative burden or
require fundamental alterations in the nature of their programs. (See
Subsections 3 and 4.)
5. Responding to reasonable accommodations requests from tenants or
applicants with disabilities for adjustments to policies or physical
alterations. (See Subsection 4.)
B. Projects with Multiple Contracts
When a project is covered by more than one assistance contract, it is considered
to be one project as long as it meets the definition of a project shown below as
defined in 24 CFR 8.3.
“Project” means the whole of one or more residential structures and appurtenant
structures, equipment, roads, walks, and parking lots that are covered by a single
contract for federal financial assistance or application for assistance, or are
treated as a whole for processing purposes, whether or not located on a common
site. [24 CFR 8.3]
C. Allowable Methods of Compliance
Owners may comply through such means as reassigning services to accessible
buildings, providing housing services or related services at alternate sites, or
altering existing facilities. Also, owners may use any other methods that result in
making the project and its activities readily accessible to and usable by persons
with disabilities.
Examples of such other methods include offering an alternate rental office
location; putting up signs identifying facilities for persons with disabilities;
relocating/enlarging a parking space for persons with disabilities in compliance
with UFAS; installing a visual smoke detector; installing a ramp; or making curb
cuts or modifying curbs.
D. Prioritizing Methods
In deciding on ways to achieve accessibility for persons with disabilities, owners
must give priority to methods that offer housing in the most integrated setting
possible (i.e., a setting that enables qualified persons with disabilities and
persons without disabilities to interact to the fullest extent possible).
E. Accessible Unit Requirements
To the maximum extent feasible and subject to reasonable health and safety
requirements, accessible units must be:
1. Distributed throughout the project and site; and
2. Made available in a sufficient range of sizes and amenities so that the
choice of living arrangements of qualified persons with disabilities is, as a
whole, comparable to that of other persons eligible for housing assistance
under the same program.
See Exhibit 2-1 for an explanation of reasonable requirements
NOTE: Any housing constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991,
must be designed in accordance with the design and construction
requirements of the Fair Housing Act in addition to the Section 504
requirements on accessibility. See paragraph 2-45.HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 2-25 establishes that federally assisted housing projects must be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities when viewed as a whole. This encompasses a range of obligations, including nondiscrimination in policies, effective communication, meeting specific unit-accessibility thresholds (5% for mobility impairments, 2% for visual and hearing impairments), and responding to reasonable accommodation requests. The provision also outlines how multi-contract projects are defined, what compliance methods are permissible, and how accessible units must be distributed and sized to offer comparable living choices to all eligible residents.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of federally assisted housing covered by § 2-25 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 generally maintain compliance by auditing their policies and physical spaces to ensure they do not discriminate against persons with disabilities and by tracking whether their portfolio meets the 5% and 2% accessible-unit thresholds. Compliant operators document and respond to reasonable accommodation requests in a timely manner, and they consider a range of compliance methods—such as reassigning services to accessible buildings, installing ramps or visual smoke detectors, or offering alternate office locations—prioritizing solutions that foster the most integrated setting possible. When a project operates under multiple assistance contracts, operators treat it as a single project under the definition in 24 CFR 8.3 and apply accessibility requirements accordingly.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 2-25 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4, residents and applicants with disabilities at federally assisted housing have the right to request reasonable accommodations—whether adjustments to policies or physical alterations—and to receive effective communication assistance such as auxiliary aids. Accessible units must be distributed throughout a project and offered in a range of sizes and amenities comparable to those available to other eligible residents, meaning tenants should not face a significantly narrower set of housing choices because of a disability. Tenants who believe these requirements are not being met may consider filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available enforcement paths.
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 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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