Charlottesville Va Reduces Permit Fees for Accessible Homes

I’m delighted to see Charlottesville, Virginia reduce its permit fees for new and remodeled homes that meet “Visit-Able” accessibility standards (25% reduction) and “Live-Able” accessibility standards (50% reduction.)

Accessible homes make it easier for our senior citizens to age in place and enhance their independent living, but these design standards create convenient, sensible homes for everyone.

For purposes of this “Design for Life Cville” program:

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.
• 32 inch or 2′ x 10″ nominal clear width interior doors.
• A useable powder room or bathroom.

A “Live-Able” home has:

• The three basic design features of a Visit-Able home, and
• At least one bedroom, full bath, and kitchen with a circulation path that connects the rooms to an accessible entrance.

These incentives of the Design for Life Cville program enhance those offered by the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit of up to $5,000 for new or remodeled homes that meet its accessibility standards.

For more information on both programs, visit the City of Charlottesville Accessible Housing Incentives webpage.

For more articles like this, see:  Resources for Central Virginia, Aging in Place.

Know someone who worries about their elderly parent in Charlottesville, Staunton, or Harrisonburg Virginia? Care is There Geriatric Care Management can help! Have them contact me, Elizabeth, for a free consultation: 434.326.5323ext 2 or Elizabeth@careisthere.com.

For more information about our services, and to read testimonials from our clients, visit our website. Also, view this short video about our care management services.

Elizabeth Swider, Certified Senior Advisor and Certified Aging in Place Specialist
President, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Support for independent living and long distance caregiving; assisted living enhancement
Author, The Caregiver’s Secret