24 C.F.R. § 8.1
§ 8.1 Purpose. (24 CFR Part 8)
Operative Text
(a) The purpose of this part is to effectuate section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C 794), to the end that no otherwise qualified individual with handicaps in the United States shall, solely by reason of his or her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This part also implements section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5309). This part does not effectuate section 504 as it applies to any program or activity conducted by the Department. Compliance with this part does not assure compliance with requirements for accessibility by physically-handicapped persons imposed under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151-4157; 24 CFR part 40). (b) The policies and standards for compliance established by this part are established in contemplation of, and with a view to enforcement through, the Department's administration of programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance and the administrative procedures described in subpart D (including, without limitation, judicial enforcement under § 8.57(a)).
Section 8.1 of 24 CFR Part 8 establishes the overarching purpose of the regulation: to carry out Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by prohibiting discrimination against otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance from HUD. The rule makes clear that meeting its requirements does not automatically satisfy separate accessibility obligations under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. Enforcement of the standards set out in this part flows through HUD's administration of federally assisted programs, including judicial enforcement mechanisms described elsewhere in the regulation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers participating in HUD-assisted programs should understand that 24 CFR Part 8 § 8.1 signals the broad anti-discrimination framework that governs their federally assisted operations. Compliant operators generally review their programs and activities to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from participation or denied benefits solely on the basis of disability. Because § 8.1 also notes that compliance with this part does not guarantee satisfaction of Architectural Barriers Act requirements, operators typically assess their obligations under both regulatory frameworks independently.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 8 § 8.1, tenants and applicants in HUD-assisted housing have a foundational protection against being excluded from, denied benefits of, or discriminated against in federally assisted programs solely because of a disability. If a tenant believes this protection has been violated, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, raising the violation as a defense in relevant administrative proceedings, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Section 504 claims. Because § 8.1 also references judicial enforcement under § 8.57(a), tenants may wish to explore what avenues are available through the courts as well.
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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