Design for Life – Building Accessible Homes

Design for Life – Building Accessible Homes

Visit the County website at DesignForLifeMC.org for details on tax incentives.

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Service has launched their new Design for Life program, intended to encourage county residents to build accessibility features into their homes. The program offers two levels of tax credit incentives – Visitability (Level I), and Livability (Level II).

A home qualifying for the Visitability credit must contain four key features:

• At least one no-step entrance
• An accessible route from the no-step entry to a place to visit
• 32-inch wide interior doors
• An accessible Powder Room

The Livability qualifications include everything in Level I, and four additional features:

• A path from one room to the next that can accommodate a wheelchair or mobility aid
• A Kitchen meeting county code for wheelchair/mobility aid accessibility
• At least one accessible Bedroom
• An accessibility-enhanced full bathroom, including a walk-in/roll-in shower or tub

These Design For Life features can be added to the main level of most of our models, depending on site conditions. Even if you’re not building in Montgomery County, it may be worth considering incorporating these features into your new home. Accessibility features can be a great benefit as we age, for visitors with mobility impairments, as well as future resale value.

Earlier this year, Classic Homes delivered our first Design For Life home, qualifying for the Livability standard. With the no-step entrance tucked away in the garage, no one would ever guess this gorgeous ranch model was designed for accessibility.

Visit our Photo Gallery for a complete set of photos of this beautiful Design For Life home.

A version of this home has been added to our Ranch Series as our new model The Bennett. Visit the model page for floorplans and further details.