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147 Issues Found in 96-Unit Affordable Housing Project

UFAS accessibility conflicts, energy code violations, and structural coordination gaps surfaced in a LIHTC-funded garden-style apartment complex, before funding deadlines.

First $100 covered. Enterprise and volume pricing

Issues found
147
Units
96
Funding type
LIHTC

Key finding: UFAS accessible unit count error

Project plans showed 5 UFAS-accessible units (5.2%) but Section 504 requires minimum 5% of 96 units = 5 units, plus 2% hearing/vision = 2 additional units. Total 7 required, only 5 shown.

The project

A 96-unit garden-style affordable housing development funded through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) with HUD Section 504 requirements. The project consisted of 8 three-story walk-up buildings with a mix of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units serving families at 60% AMI.

InspectMind's AI review cross-checked drawings against both IBC requirements and federal accessibility standards (UFAS, Section 504), identifying compliance gaps that could have jeopardized tax credit funding and required costly redesign.

Standards referenced
UFAS, Section 504, IECC 2021, Fair Housing

Sample findings

Federal accessibility issues

Accessibility

  1. UFAS Unit Count Shortage

    Critical

    Section 504 requires 5% mobility-accessible units (5 units) plus 2% sensory units (2 units) for 96-unit project. Plans show only 5 total accessible units, 2 units short of federal requirement.

  2. Accessible Route Grade Violation

    Critical

    Site plan shows accessible route at 6.5% grade for 80 feet, UFAS 4.3.7 limits running slopes to 5% maximum without handrails and level landings every 30 feet.

  3. Kitchen Clearance Deficiency

    High

    Accessible unit kitchen shows 42" between counters, UFAS 4.34.6.1 requires 60" minimum for wheelchair maneuvering in U-shaped kitchens.

Energy code compliance

Energy

  1. Window-to-Wall Ratio Exceeded

    High

    Building A elevation calculations show 28% glazing but energy model assumes 25%, IECC prescriptive compliance based on incorrect WWR input.

  2. Insulation Schedule Conflict

    High

    Wall section shows R-13 cavity insulation but specifications call for R-19 to meet Climate Zone 4 requirements. IECC Table R402.1.2 mandates R-20 or R-13+5ci.

Structural issues

Structural

  1. Foundation-to-Wall Anchor Conflict

    High

    Structural details show 1/2" anchor bolts at 48" O.C. but wood wall bracing schedule requires 5/8" anchors at 32" O.C. for shear wall segments.

  2. Truss Bearing Condition

    Medium

    Floor truss bearing shown on 2x4 flat plate but truss manufacturer requires minimum 3-1/2" bearing, need 2x4 on edge or 2x6 flat.

Site & civil issues

Site

  1. Accessible Parking Count

    High

    Site shows 150 parking spaces with 4 accessible spaces (2.6%), ADA requires minimum 5 accessible spaces for 101-150 total spaces (3.3%).

  2. Dumpster Pad Location

    Medium

    Dumpster enclosure shown 15 feet from Building C bedroom windows, local zoning requires minimum 25 feet from residential windows.

Issue categories

Federal Accessibility (UFAS/504)
Unit counts, accessible routes, kitchen/bath clearances
Energy Code Compliance
Insulation values, window ratios, HVAC efficiency
Structural Coordination
Anchors, bearing conditions, shear wall requirements
Site Development
Accessible parking, routes, grading, setbacks
Unit Design
Room dimensions, fixture clearances, storage requirements
Fair Housing
Adaptable features, accessible common areas, routes

Why these issues matter

Tax credit risk

LIHTC projects must demonstrate Section 504 compliance to receive tax credits. UFAS violations discovered during investor due diligence can delay or kill funding.

Funding deadline pressure

Affordable housing projects have strict funding deadlines. Redesign for accessibility violations can push projects past credit allocation windows.

  • 147 issues surfaced before investor review
  • Section 504 compliance gaps identified
  • Energy code conflicts caught early
  • UFAS unit requirements verified
“The UFAS findings were exactly what we needed to catch before investor due diligence. We were 2 accessible units short of federal requirements, that would have been a major problem at closing. The energy code conflicts also would have come up at permit review.”
Project ManagerAffordable Housing Developer