Remodelers Program

The EasyLiving Home® certification program for remodelers is designed to promote the remodeling of homes with features that make a home more livable for all homeowners and their visitors. Remodelers in the EasyLiving Home program are required to include at a minimum the following features for homes to be EasyLiving Home® certified:

Criteria Details:

  • At least one step-free entrance and a threshold of not more than ½ inch from a driveway, sidewalk, or other firm surface into the main floor of the home. The firm surface access to the step-free entrance must be integrated into the overall design of the home and must be aesthetically pleasing without appearing clinical or institutional. For instance, a surface or inclined walkway that appears to be a wheelchair ramp is not an acceptable option. A design drawing and description of an inclined entrance must be presented to the ELH program office for review and approval prior to installing access to the step-free entrance.
  • The exterior door that provides the step-free entrance and EVERY interior passage on the main level (including ALL bedrooms and ALL bathrooms) must be a 3’0” or 2’10” door or some solution that provides 32” of clear passage space.
  • The main floor includes a kitchen, some entertainment area, a bedroom, and at least one full bathroom.
  • At least one full bathroom must have designated maneuvering space consisting of a 30” x 48” rectangle adjacent to the sink, shower or tub, and commode. The rectangles may overlap.

Additional Requirements:

The overall design of the renovation must not appear to be specific to an individual or disability. Any use of medically-related apparatus must be incorporated into the overall design in such a fashion that it is aesthetically pleasing and opens up the market to more buyers rather than limiting the marketability to a specific use.

Proof of permit, if applicable, will be required. If not applicable, a notarized affidavit from the remodeler that permitting is not required will suffice.

Any advertising, marketing, displaying of materials, or similar activities will promote an EasyLiving Home® as a home for everyone rather than a specialty home for people with disabilities or older adults. Any advertising, articles or marketing of a home as EasyLiving Home® certified requires prior approval of a member of the EasyLiving Home® program staff.