Accessible Dwelling Units Required?

[Enginerd]

Situation:

Existing building (built before 1920, in a Historic district in PA) with no accessible entrance. Assembly use on the 1st floor - restaurant and bar; no accessible restrooms

A total of 22 sleeping units (transient) exist on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Non-accessible, communal bathrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor. No elevator. Fire escape from rear of central corridor in the back, non-enclosed stairwell in the front of the building.

The building owner would like to convert one of the floors to non-transient dwelling units with individual bathrooms in the units, combining multiple rooms. (Level 2 alteration)

The building owner would also like to update the remaining sleeping units. (Level 1 alterations)

Question:

Must an elevator be provided? Do any of the units have to be accessible? Type A? Type B?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[mark handler]

First of all the Assembly use on the 1st floor - restaurant, bar and restrooms must be accessible per the ADA

Second, all ground floor dwelling units in buildings containing four or more units must be accessible.

All states and many cities and counties have developed their own building codes for accessibility, usually based in whole or in part on the specifications contained in the major national standards. Many states also have provisions that a certain percentage (often 5%) of new multifamily housing must meet more stringent physical accessibility requirements than required under the Fair Housing Act.

Federal Fair Housing Act.

Multistory dwelling units are not required to be accessible except when they are located in buildings which have one or more elevators, in which case, the primary entry level is covered, all ground floor dwelling units in buildings containing four or more units must be accessible. You do not need to add elevators, but if you do....