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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58480</law_id><section_number>36-96.3:2</section_number><catch_line>Reasonable accommodations; interactive process</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="36">Housing</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5.1">Virginia Fair Housing Law</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> When a request for a reasonable accommodation establishes that such accommodation is necessary to afford a <span class="dictionary">person</span> with a disability, and who has a disability-related need, an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a <span class="dictionary">dwelling</span> and does not impose either (i) an undue financial and administrative burden or (ii) a fundamental alteration to the nature of the operations of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request, the request for the accommodation is reasonable and shall be granted. <a id="paragraph-214336" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.3_2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">person</span> receives a request for accessible parking to accommodate a disability, the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request shall treat such request as a request for reasonable accommodation as provided by this chapter. <a id="paragraph-214337" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.3_2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> When a request for a reasonable accommodation may impose either (i) an undue financial and administrative burden or (ii) a fundamental alteration to the nature of the operations of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request, the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request shall offer to engage in a good-faith interactive process to determine if there is an alternative accommodation that would effectively address the disability-related needs of the requester. An interactive process is not required when the requester does not have a disability and a disability-related need for the requested accommodation. As part of the interactive process, unless the reasonableness and necessity for the accommodation has been established by the requester, a request may be made for additional supporting documentation to evaluate the reasonableness of either the requested accommodation or any identified alternative accommodations. If an alternative accommodation is identified that effectively meets the requester&#x2019;s disability-related needs and is reasonable, the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the reasonable accommodation request shall make the effective alternative accommodation. However, the requester shall not be required to accept an alternative accommodation if the requested accommodation is also reasonable. The various factors to be considered for determining whether an accommodation imposes an undue financial and administrative burden include (a) the cost of the requested accommodation, including any substantial increase in the cost of the owner&#x2019;s insurance policy; (b) the financial resources of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request; (c) the benefits that the accommodation would provide to the <span class="dictionary">person</span> with a disability; and (d) the availability of alternative accommodations that would effectively meet the requester&#x2019;s disability-related needs. <a id="paragraph-214338" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.3_2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A request for a reasonable accommodation shall be determined on a case-by-case basis and may be denied if (i) the <span class="dictionary">person</span> on whose behalf the request for an accommodation was submitted is not disabled; (ii) there is no disability-related need for the accommodation; (iii) the accommodation imposes an undue financial and administrative burden on the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request; or (iv) the accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the operations of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request. With respect to a request for reasonable accommodation to maintain an <span class="dictionary">assistance animal</span> in a <span class="dictionary">dwelling</span>, the requested <span class="dictionary">assistance animal</span> shall (a) work, provide assistance, or perform tasks or services for the benefit of the requester or (b) provide emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of such requester&#x2019;s existing disability. In addition, as determined by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> receiving the request, the requested <span class="dictionary">assistance animal</span> shall not pose a clear and present threat of substantial harm to others or to the <span class="dictionary">dwelling</span> itself that is not solely based on breed, size, or type or cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation. <a id="paragraph-214339" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.3_2/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2017, cc. 575, 729; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 17.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
