Page 84 - AAGLA-MAY 2022

Member Update
Demystifying California’s Accessibility Requirements for Affordable Housing
By Christy Kim, AIA, CASp, Technical Director of Accessibility, Partner Engineering
Sand Science, Inc.
ince 1970, California has been facing a housing shortage throughout the state. Over the years, state and local agencies have continued to provide funding for new affordable housing stock. However, a complex and stringent set of environmental, safety, and accessibility requirements, coupled with the increasing
costs of labor and construction material, has slowed down the real estate development pipeline more than expected.
AsCalifornia’shousinggapcontinuestogrow,federal,state, and local accessibility requirements for new developments have also gotten a lot more complicated. While specifics of accessibility compliance will vary by project, below are answers to some common accessibility questions along with guidance about where to draw the line between doing your research and hiring a consultant.
What Are Some Program-Specific Accessibility Requirements?
• The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC): The 2021 CTCAC regulations require
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all new construction projects to provide 15% units with mobility features and 10% units with communication features. “Rehab” projects must provide 10% units with mobility features and 4% units with communication features. These units must comply with the technical requirements outlined in Chapter 11(B) of the California Building Code (CBC) and represent an increased quantity over California Building Code requirements.
• Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) between the City of Los Angeles and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): This agreement is for projects located in the City of Los Angeles. When projects are rehabbed or where there is new construction, 11% of units with mobility features and 4% of units with communication features are required. These projects also include an additional review by the local government, the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), and the city-designated Neutral Accessibility Consultant (NAC).
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