Building codes & construction
Adaptable dwelling unit
A dwelling unit built so it can be converted for a resident with a disability without structural work — reinforced walls, removable cabinets, clear floor space.
Definition
An adaptable dwelling unit is built so it can be converted for a resident with a disability quickly and without structural work: reinforced bathroom walls ready for grab bars, base cabinets that remove to open knee space at sinks and work surfaces, clear floor space at fixtures and appliances, usable doors and an accessible route through the unit, and switches, outlets and controls within reach ranges. It is the core concept of CBC Chapter 11A and the federal Fair Housing Act design requirements (24 CFR Part 100): covered units are designed adaptable rather than built out as fully accessible units.
Why it matters in an underwrite
Adaptability is nearly free at design time — blocking, layout and specification choices — and expensive to bolt on later, which is why enforcement focuses on as-built conformance: a missing inch of bathroom clearance in the typical plan is a defect in every covered unit at once. On acquisitions of post-1991 product, spot-check units against the standards; design-era shortcuts surface as portfolio-wide fair-housing exposure.
Sources & related guides
See also
See the term in the law itself
Read the controlling text in the Code Library, or ask the AI how it applies to your project.
Last reviewed 2026-07-29. General information, not legal advice.