Accessible housing requirements approved

A bill aimed at measuring and increasing the number of accessible housing units in Nebraska cleared the final round of debate April 10.

Under the Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Act, metropolitan, primary, and first class cities with a population of at least 20,000 are required to submit biennial reports to the Urban Affairs Committee.

The reports provide details on cities’ efforts to address the availability of and incentives for affordable housing through zoning, ordinances and regulations.

Under LB839, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Victor Rountree, cities also are required to report the number of multifamily housing units within city limits that have been designed and built in accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements since Jan. 1, 2021.

A city also may report the number of multifamily housing units that meet accessibility requirements under the 2018 edition of the International Building Code.

The bill includes provisions of two other measures sponsored by Rountree this session.

The amended provisions of LB840 prohibit the state Department of Economic Development from approving a multifamily rental unit project for assistance from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund unless at least 5% of the project’s units are accessible for people with mobility impairments and at least 2% are accessible for those with hearing or vision impairments.

Under the amended provisions of LB1041, the biennial reports must detail cities’ efforts to expand the use of accessory dwelling units, any obstacles to the construction of additional ADUs and areas where they are allowed by right.

The measure also requires reports to include recommended actions the state could take to assist cities in the construction of affordable housing.

LB839 passed on a vote of 34-15.