Tax Credits for Improved Accessibility in Homes Available July 1 under New Law

County residents are reminded that the “Design for Life Montgomery” legislation goes into effect July 1. The new law provides tax credits to builders and homeowners for including features in new and existing residential housing that improve accessibility for persons of all ages, including seniors and those with disabilities. With this new law, the entire stock of more accessible single-family homes, apartments and condominiums in the County will increase, creating a more inclusive community.

The new law will provide:

• a property tax credit for an accessibility feature installed on an existing residence; 
• a property tax credit for meeting a Level I or Level II accessibility standard on a new single-family residence; 
• an impact tax credit against the Development Impact Tax for Public School Improvements for meeting a Level I accessibility standard in single-family attached and detached homes; and 
• tax credits to builders and homeowners for including Level I visit-ability (up to $3,600) and Level II live-ability (up to $10,000) accessibility features in new and existing residential housing. The law also requires that developers and realtors disclose to the buyer of a new home – before the buyer signs the contract to purchase a new single-family residential property -- that property tax credits for accessibility are available.

For more information about the Design for Life Montgomery program, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/designforlifemontgomery, or call Betsy Luecking in the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Disability Services, at 240-777-1256 or Reggie Jetter in the Department of Permitting Services, 240-777-6275.

Read the news release.