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Building Today's Homes for Montgomery County's Future |
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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 |
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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. |
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Build or Renovate Your Home... For All Ages and Stages of Life. |
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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. |
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Level One: Visit-Ability |
Level Two: Live-Ability |
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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. |
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32 inch or 2' x 10" nominal clear width
interior doors. |
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A useable powder room or bathroom. | |
| A Live-Able home has |
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The three basic design features of a
Visit-Able home plus, |
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At least one bedroom, full bath, and kitchen with a circulation path that connects the rooms to an accessible entrance. |
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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 |
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Unique Features of the Design for Life Montgomery Program |
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One program with two optional standards of accessibility. |
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Voluntary: Follows National Association of Homebuilder's guidelines that support voluntary programs. |
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Targets new construction and renovation of existing homes*. |
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Successul informal partnership of County, building/business community and advocates. |
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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. |
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County Council Zoning Text Amendment provides by right the use of setback areas for access as ane element of the full program. |
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*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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Seniors
