OAR 813 § 813-310-0025
Visitability Requirements
Operative Text
Except as provided in ORS 456.513 and consistent with these rules, the Department may not provide funding for the development of new rental housing that is a subsidized development unless: (1) Each dwelling unit of the housing meets the following requirements: (a) At least one visitable exterior route leading to a dwelling unit entrance that is stepless and has a minimum clearance of 32 inches. (b) One or more visitable routes between the visitable dwelling unit entrance and a visitable common living space. (c) At least one visitable common living space. (d) One or more visitable routes between the dwelling unit entrance and a powder room. (e) A powder room doorway that is stepless and has a minumum clearance of 32 inches. (f) A powder room with walls that are reinforced in a manner suitable for handrail installation. For purposes of this paragraph, handrail means grab bar. (g) Light switches, electrical outlets and environmental controls that are at a reachable height. (2) For a development that has a shared community room or that has 20 or more contiguous units, there is at least one community powder room available for all tenants and guests that is accessible, except as provided by OAR 813-310-0030(2). This requirement does not apply to group homes. (3) For a multi-story structure without an elevator, this section applies only to dwelling units on the ground floor of the structure. (4) The visitability requirements of ORS 456.510 enumerated in this section do not apply to farmworker housing located on a farm.
OAR 813 § 813-310-0025 establishes visitability standards that subsidized new rental housing developments in Oregon must meet in order to receive state funding from the Department. Each dwelling unit must include features such as a stepless exterior route with at least 32 inches of clearance, accessible routes to common living spaces and a powder room, a powder room with reinforced walls suitable for grab-bar installation, and controls and outlets at reachable heights. Developments with a shared community room or 20 or more contiguous units must also provide at least one accessible community powder room for all tenants and guests, though certain exemptions apply for farmworker housing on farms and ground-floor-only requirements apply in multi-story buildings without elevators.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property managers seeking state funding for new subsidized rental housing in Oregon must ensure their projects satisfy the visitability requirements set out in OAR 813 § 813-310-0025 before funding is approved. Compliant operators generally design each unit with stepless, 32-inch-clearance exterior routes, accessible interior routes to common living spaces and powder rooms, grab-bar-ready powder room walls, and controls at reachable heights. For larger developments or those with shared community rooms, operators also ensure that at least one accessible community powder room is available to all tenants and guests, keeping in mind the specific exemptions for farmworker housing and multi-story buildings without elevators.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
OAR 813 § 813-310-0025 establishes that tenants living in state-funded subsidized rental housing are entitled to units and common areas that meet specific visitability standards, including stepless routes, accessible powder rooms with grab-bar-ready walls, and controls at reachable heights. If a development appears to fall short of these requirements, tenants may consider raising the issue with the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether the shortfall can be raised as part of a broader housing complaint process. Certain housing types, including farmworker housing on farms and upper-floor units in elevator-free multi-story buildings, are exempt from some or all of these requirements under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.