24 C.F.R. § 100.204
§ 100.204 Reasonable accommodations. (24 CFR Part 100)
Operative Text
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a handicapped person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling unit, including public and common use areas. (b) The application of this section may be illustrated by the following examples: Example (1): A blind applicant for rental housing wants live in a dwelling unit with a seeing eye dog. The building has a no pets policy. It is a violation of § 100.204 for the owner or manager of the apartment complex to refuse to permit the applicant to live in the apartment with a seeing eye dog because, without the seeing eye dog, the blind person will not have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. Example (2): Progress Gardens is a 300 unit apartment complex with 450 parking spaces which are available to tenants and guests of Progress Gardens on a first come first served basis. John applies for housing in Progress Gardens. John is mobility impaired and is unable to walk more than a short distance and therefore requests that a parking space near his unit be reserved for him so he will not have to walk very far to get to his apartment. It is a violation of § 100.204 for the owner or manager of Progress Gardens to refuse to make this accommodation. Without a reserved space, John might be unable to live in Progress Gardens at all or, when he has to park in a space far from his unit, might have great difficulty getting from his car to his apartment unit. The accommodation therefore is necessary to afford John an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. The accommodation is reasonable because it is feasible and practical under the circumstances.
Under 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.204, housing providers are prohibited from refusing to adjust their standard rules, policies, practices, or services when a change is necessary to give a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their home, including shared spaces. The obligation applies broadly to any person involved in housing—owners, managers, and others—not just large complexes. Classic examples the regulation itself offers include allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pets policy and reserving a nearby parking space for a mobility-impaired resident.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators covered by 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.204 generally maintain a documented process for receiving and evaluating accommodation requests from applicants and residents with disabilities. A compliant operator reviews each request on its own facts, considering whether the requested change is both necessary for the individual's equal enjoyment of the dwelling and feasible under the circumstances—rather than applying a blanket denial based on existing policies. Keeping clear records of requests, the interactive process, and outcomes is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.204, tenants and applicants with disabilities have the right to request that a housing provider modify its rules, policies, practices, or services when doing so is necessary for equal use and enjoyment of the dwelling. If a provider refuses a reasonable accommodation request, that refusal may constitute a violation of the Fair Housing Act, and affected individuals can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or a state or local fair housing agency. Tenant-rights organizations and fair housing councils can also help individuals understand what options may be available when a request has been denied.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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