Design for Life Montgomery - Visit-ability and Live-ability

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Building Today's Homes for Montgomery County's Future

Universal & Green Model Home
No-Step Front Door Entrance
Clarksburg, Maryland
Photo Courtesy of Winchester Homes®
Accessible Kitchen - Townhome
Potomac, Maryland
Photo Courtesy of Louis Tenenbaum

Renovation - Single Family Home - No-Step Rear Entry
Takoma Park, Maryland
Photo Courtesy of Ken Wyner
and UniversalDesign

Design for Life Montgomery is the first voluntary certification program in Maryland for Visit-Ability and Live-Ability in single family attached and detached homes located in Montgomery County. Its guidelines apply to both new construction and renovation of existing homes*. Whether you are a first time homebuyer, young family, career professional, active adult, or person living with a temporary or permanent disability, your home will be enhanced by these additional design features which will meet your needs throughout your life.

Build or Renovate Your Home... For All Ages and Stages of Life.

The Design for Life Montgomery guidelines for visit-ability and live-ability incorporate design features such as a no step entrance, making it easier and safer to bring in a baby stroller, move in large furniture, accommodate a person living with a temporary or permanent disability, accommodate friends or relatives who have mobility limitations, and ultimately will help people age in place.

Level One: Visit-Ability
Level Two: Live-Ability

A Visit-Able home has three basic design elements:

At least one no-step entry located at the front door, back door, side door (any door), deck or through the garage connected to an accessible route to a place to visit on that level.

2.
32 inch or 2' x 10" nominal clear width
interior doors.

3.
A useable powder room or bathroom.

A Live-Able home has

•
The three basic design features of a
Visit-Able home plus,

•
At least one bedroom, full bath, and kitchen with a circulation path that connects the rooms to an accessible entrance.

Single family home - No step front entry
Boyds, Maryland
Photo Courtesy of DisabilityGuide.org

Renovation - Accessible Master Bathroom
Takoma Park, Maryland
Photo Courtesy of Ken Wyner
and UniversalDesign

Unique Features of the Design for Life Montgomery Program

1.
One program with two optional standards of accessibility.

2.
Voluntary: Follows National Association of Homebuilder's guidelines that support voluntary programs.

3.
Targets new construction and renovation of existing homes*.

4.
Successul informal partnership of County, building/business community and advocates.

5.
Administered by the County as part of the regular permitting process, not a special process:
• A checkbox for review and certification is on the standard application for permit.
• There are no additional permitting costs, beyond the standard fees.

6.
County Council Zoning Text Amendment provides by right the use of setback areas for access as ane element of the full program.

*Please note: Homes built before the program was initiated can apply to Permitting Services for an Alteration Permit, for a minimal fee, and the home will be inspected by permitting staff for meeting the program requirements, and the owner will be issued a certificate for meeting the standards.

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