New App Helps Builders Meet Accessibility Requirements of Fair Housing Act
NAHB unveiled the Pocket Guide to the Fair Housing Act, a free app designed to help home builders, contractors and designers meet the accessibility requirements of the act, during the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas this week.
“HUD welcomes the efforts of this important housing industry partner in working to meet the needs of persons with disabilities,” said U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson. "This new app represents an exciting new tool in our collective effort to help ensure that home builders meet their Fair Housing Act obligations.”
“Through this free tool, NAHB strives to increase Fair Housing Act compliance within the housing industry and facilitate greater access to multifamily housing for persons with disabilities,” said NAHB Immediate Past Chairman Greg Ugalde.
The app was partially funded by an educational grant from HUD through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program. Staff from NAHB’s legal, codes and technology departments made substantial in-kind contributions to the project. The app will enable builders and developers to determine if the Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements apply to their housing project and, if so, provide a quick reference guide to the seven basic accessibility requirements for compliance with the law.
“The more informed a home builder is, the easier it is for them to create the kind of housing they want to build while also complying with the nation’s fair housing laws,” said Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “This phenomenal new app is just the resource that can make that possible.”
The information contained in this app is intended to provide a basic, non-exhaustive guide to understanding and conforming with the design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act. It is not a safe harbor for compliance with the Fair Housing Act.
The app can be downloaded from the App Store (for iPhone and iPad) and from Google Play (for Android devices) by searching “FHA Guide” or “NAHB.”
More details can be found at nahb.org/fhaguide.
Latest from NAHBNow
PWB Week | Professional Women in Building Council
Sep 15, 2025
The Impact of the Professional Women in Building Leadership GrantProfessional Women in Building's annual scholarhsip programs provide students and emerging professionals with the resources, support and opportunities they need to thrive and lead the housing industry.
Associate Members Committee | Awards
Sep 15, 2025
Associate Award Winners Share Meaning Behind Their WinNAHB is excited to award two of the association's top Associate contributors each year for their achievements. Two previous winners reflect on their experiences.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 12, 2025
Household Real Estate Asset Values Reach New HighThe market value of household real estate assets rose to $49.3 trillion in the second quarter of 2025, according to the most recent release of U.S. Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts. The value rose by 2.7% from the first quarter and is 1.1% higher than a year ago. This measure of market value estimates the value of all owner-occupied real estate nationwide.
Economics
Sep 11, 2025
Parking Trends in Newly Completed Single-Family Homes, 2024In 2024, 65% of newly completed single-family homes featured two-car garages, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census’s Survey of Construction data. The share of new homes with three or more car garages stood at 15%, continuing a downward trend from its peak of 24% in 2015 and decreasing 2 percentage points from 2023.
Economics
Sep 10, 2025
Year-over-Year Building Material Price Growth AdvancesPrice growth for residential building materials rose for the fourth straight month in August, reaching its highest level since January 2023. Across domestic inputs goods and services into residential construction, service prices decreased in August while goods prices slightly advanced.