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S 2473Housing

Health and Safety - State Building Code - Rhode Island Inclusive Home Design Act

Requires new residential homes built after July 2027 to include specific design features making them accessible to people with disabilities.

Held for study
Population
Affected
35
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 6, 2026Committee Senate Housing & Municipal Government

Plain-English Summary

This legislation enacts the "Rhode Island Inclusive Home Design Act," which amends the State Building Code. Starting July 1, 2027, all new single-family, townhouse, and multi-family residential construction must meet specific accessibility standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Specifically, units must incorporate "visitable" features, such as accessible entrances and bathrooms. Multi-family buildings with elevators must ensure all units are compliant, while those without elevators must have at least one compliant level. The law exempts manufactured housing and renovations of existing buildings. Local authorities cannot issue building permits or certificates of occupancy for non-compliant projects without a variance.

For younger readers

This new law creates rules for how new houses and apartments are built in Rhode Island. Starting in the summer of 2027, builders must make sure that new homes are designed so that people with disabilities can easily visit or live in them. This means including things like wider doorways for wheelchairs and bathrooms on the main floor that are easy to get into. The goal is to make sure that everyone, including people who have trouble walking or moving around, can enter and use new homes safely. This rule does not apply to older houses being fixed up.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Home builders and developersPeople with disabilitiesArchitects and designersNew home buyersLocal building officials
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Promotes social justice and equity by ensuring that housing stock becomes increasingly accessible to people with physical disabilities and the elderly, reducing housing discrimination based on ability.
  • Supports the concept of "aging in place," allowing seniors and those with mobility issues to remain in their communities rather than being forced into institutional care facilities.
  • Reduces social isolation for individuals with disabilities by mandating "visitability," ensuring they can enter and use the bathrooms in the homes of friends, family, and neighbors.
  • The implementation date is delayed until July 2027, meaning thousands of housing units built in the interim will not be required to meet these inclusive standards.
  • The added construction requirements could increase the cost of building new housing, which might be passed on to buyers and renters, potentially exacerbating the affordable housing crisis.
  • The exemption for renovations and adaptive re-use limits the scope of the bill, leaving a significant portion of the housing market inaccessible to those with disabilities.
For Conservatives
  • Explicitly exempts existing buildings, adaptive re-use, and renovations, thereby protecting current property owners from costly retroactive mandates and respecting existing property rights.
  • May reduce the long-term financial burden on state-funded nursing homes and Medicaid by allowing individuals to live independently in their own homes for longer periods.
  • Includes an appeals and variance process, providing a mechanism for builders to seek relief if the requirements are not feasible for a specific project.
  • Imposes new government regulations and mandates on the private construction industry, restricting the freedom of builders and buyers to design homes according to their own preferences.
  • Likely increases the cost of new residential construction due to compliance with specific ANSI standards, which could negatively impact the real estate market and housing affordability.
  • Interferes with the free market by dictating specific design elements for private single-family homes, rather than allowing the market to determine the demand for accessible housing.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 66 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 23-27.3 of the General Laws entitled "State Building Code" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following article: § 23-27.3-800. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Inclusive Home Design Act.” § 23-27.3-801. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Article" means the Rhode Island inclusive home design act.

(2) "American National Standards Institute (ANSI)" means the organization that facilitates the development of American National Standards through the accreditation of the procedures of standards developing organizations and approves their documents as American National Standards (ANS). These documents provide technical guidelines on how to make residences accessible to people with disabilities to varying degrees. Designers and builders use ANSI standards to demonstrate compliance with industry best practices. Codes like the International Building Code

(IBC) reference ANSI standards.

(3) “Covered dwelling unit” is defined by §§ 23-27.3-802 and 23-27.3-803 of this article;

(4) "International Building Code (IBC)" means a comprehensive regulatory building code that is legally enforceable standards adopted by jurisdictions. The IBC applies to general building construction and major renovations, setting safety and welfare requirements. § 23-27.3-802. Visitability requirement.

(a) All new single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family construction which does not include an elevator as part of its overall design, permitted after July 1, 2027, shall include no fewer than one level that complies with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI') Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). Any updates to the ANSI Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units shall be applied to this section upon adoption by the building code standards committee.

(b) All new multifamily construction which does include an elevator as part of its overall design, permitted after July 1, 2027, shall provide that all units comply with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). Any updates to the ANSI Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units shall be applied to this section upon adoption by the building code standards committee.

(c) This requirement does not apply to manufactured housing, adaptive re-use within the existing building envelope, or redevelopment of existing buildings. § 23-27.3-803. Basic adaptability requirement.

(a) All new multi-family construction with two (2) or more units, permitted after July 1, 2027, shall include no fewer than one level that complies with the Standards for Type B (basic adaptability) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). Any updates to the ANSI Standards for Type B (basic adaptability) Units shall be applied to this section upon adoption by the building code standards committee.

(b) This requirement does not apply to manufactured housing, adaptive re-use within the existing building envelope, or redevelopment of existing buildings. § 23-27.3-804. Implementation and enforcement.

(a) In the instance that a covered dwelling unit subject to the provisions outlined by this article, cannot comply with its requirements, in whole or in part, the aggrieved party may make an appeal in accordance with § 23-27.3-127.1(b)(1).

(b) Local permitting authorities shall not issue a build permit for any covered dwelling units that do not comply with the applicable standards after July 1, 2027, unless the development has received a variance and the proposed design is consistent with that variance.

(c) Local permitting authorities shall not issue a certificate of occupancy on any covered units that do not comply with the applicable standards which were permitted after July 1, 2027, unless the development has received a variance and the completed units are consistent with the requirements of that variance.

(d) The standards set forth in §§ 23-27.3-802 and 23-27.3-803 are intended to supplement and not replace other accessibility requirements. Where specific requirements in this article differ from or conflict with other state or federal accessibility requirements, the most stringent required accessible standard applies. § 23-27.3-805. Disclaimer of preemptive effect. Nothing in this article shall limit any right, procedure, or remedy available under the Constitution of the United States, the Rhode Island Constitution, or any other chapter of the general laws. § 23-27.3-806. Severability. If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remaining provisions of this article and the application of those provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.