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Fair Housing - Additional Protection If You Have a Disability
 
Additional Protection If You Have a Disability
  If you or someone associated with you:
  • Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
  • Have a record of such a disability or
  • Are regarded as having such a disability
your landlord may not:
  • Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)
  • Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.
  • Example: A building with a "no pets" policy must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog.
  • Example: An apartment complex that offers tenants ample, unassigned parking must honor a request from a mobility-impaired tenant for a reserved space near her apartment if necessary to assure that she can have access to her apartment.
However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently uses illegal drugs.

Requirements for New Buildings In buildings that are ready for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, and have an elevator and four or more units:

Public and common areas must be accessible to persons with disabilities

Doors and hallways must be wide enough for wheelchairs

All units must have:
  • An accessible route into and through the unit
  • Accessible light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls
  • Reinforced bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars and
  • Kitchens and bathrooms that can be used by people in wheelchairs.
If a building with four or more units has no elevator and was ready for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, these standards apply to ground floor units. These requirements for new buildings do not replace any more stringent standards in State or local law. For more information on new construction requirements, see:
Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines or
Supplement to Notice of Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines: Questions and Answers about the Guidelines
 
 
OEO Info
 
Office of Equal Opportunity
215 N. Olive Avenue, Suite 130
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Mapquest
Telephone: (561) 355-4883
Fax: (561) 355-4932

Office of Equal Opportunity logo
 
 
 
About Fair Housing
 
  1. Fair Housing in Palm Beach County
  2. What is Fair Housing?
  3. What Housing Is Covered?
  4. What Is Prohibited?
  5. Additional Protection If You Have a Disability
  6. Housing Opportunities For Families: 55+ and 62 and over Housing Communities
  7. What to Tell The Office of Equal Opportunity
  8. Where to Write, Call or Visit
  9. What Happens When You File A Complaint?
  10. Conciliation
  11. What Happens After A Complaint Investigation?
  12. In Addition You May File Suit
  13. Other Tools to Combat Housing Discrimination
 
 
Learn Now Or Pay Later
   
 
Fair Housing Links
   
 
Employment and Fair Housing Links
   
 
 

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2006 Palm Beach County Board of County Commisioners. Last Modified: Friday February 13 2009.
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