"This is a huge victory for multifamily builders, HUD and the disabled community," Jerry Howard, NAHB CEO and executive vice president, notes. "The best way to assure compliance with accessibility requirements and to increase the amount of accessible multifamily housing available is to incorporate the guidelines into state and local building codes. This current endorsement, like its predecessor in 2000, will play an important role in increasing the nation's inventory of accessible housing and assuring that anyone who wants an accessible home can find one."

While HUD did take issue with one aspect of 2003 IB, it decided to give its stamp of approval anyway. There is one stipulation--ICC must publish and distribute the following statement: "ICC interprets Section 1104.1, and specifically, the Exception to Section 1104.1, to be read together with Section 1107.4, and that the code requires an accessible pedestrian route from site arrival points to accessible building entrances, unless site impracticality applies. Exception 1 to Section 1107.4 is not applicable to site arrival points for any Type B dwelling units because site impracticality is addressed under Section 1107.7."