Townhome in Silver Spring

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.

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. Successful 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 an 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.

Since the program started in March, 2007, as of August, 2008, Permitting Services has issued 12 permits.  8 are for new construction, 3 for additions, and 1 for an alteration.
Single Family Home in Takoma Park Photo Courtesy of Ken Wyner (photographer) and www.UniversalDesign.com	Future Clarksburg Homesite Rendering Courtesy of Winchester Homes®

Townhome in Potomac Photo Courtesy of Louis Tenenbaum

Features included in the Design for Life Montgomery program generally follow principles in the national Visit-ability movement and studies of an emerging design principle called Universal Design. This unique program was specifically designed to meet basic accessibility standards and is NOT intended to meet the requirements of the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or of Universal Design.

Homebuilders and homeowners need to apply to the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services to have a home certified. This program offers benefits to all parties concerned.

Single Family Home in Chevy Chase                                          Photo Courtesy of NSArchitects

To learn more about how the program works, click on the links.

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Website Design and Content: Betsy Luecking and Carly Clem