City of Philadelphia - File #: 010742

• File #: 010742
• Version: 0
• Type: Bill
• Status: LAPSED
• File created: 12/20/2001
• In control: Committee on Licenses and Inspections
• Final action: 12/31/2003
• Title: Amending Title 4 of "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," Subcode B, "The Philadelphia Building Code," Chapter 11 to amend Section B-1101 to require newly constructed single and multi-family dwellings to be constructed according the principles of VisitAbility; all under certain terms and conditions.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Blackwell
• Indexes: BUILDING CODE
• Code sections: B-1101 - , B-1101.4 - VisitAbility; Legislative Findings, B-1101.5 - VisitAbility; Application, B-1101.7 - VisitAbility; Design and Construction Requirements, Title 4 - THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/20/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	Referred
12/20/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Amending Title 4 of "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," Subcode B, "The Philadelphia Building Code," Chapter 11 to amend Section B-1101 to require newly constructed single and multi-family dwellings to be constructed according the principles of VisitAbility; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, VisitAbility allows people who use wheelchairs and other similar devices to enter into buildings; and

WHEREAS, Persons with disabilities and their immediate families are often isolated in their homes because most homes contain barriers to persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, There are features in construction that can make newly constructed homes VisitAble for persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency ("PFHA") has recently promulgated VisitAbility criterion for construction of housing utilizing PHFA funds; and

WHEREAS, The concept and provisions of VisitAbility has been adopted by the City of Philadelphia in its Year 27 Consolidated Plan for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; now therefore

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. Section B-1101 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

B-1101.4 VisitAbility; Legislative Findings.

1) The City Council of the City of Philadelphia makes the following findings:

a) VisitAbility is a design criterion that affords all persons basic access to residential buildings. The VisitAbility standard is lower than full accessibility. Therefore, VisitAbility is not the same as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the National Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 compliant accessibility. ADA compliant dwellings will automatically be VisitAble; however, VisitAble dwellings are not necessarily ADA compliant. Designing as many units as possible to be VisitAble allows people with disabilities the opportunity to visit as many neighbors as possible. Const...