How to Request a Reasonable Accommodation in a Group Home or Rental in Ohio
By the ACC Solutions team
Short answer: if a disability makes a house rule, policy or practice hard for you to live with, you can ask the housing provider to change or make an exception to it. That's a reasonable accommodation, and both federal law (24 CFR 100.204) and Ohio law (ORC 4112.02(H)(19)) make it unlawful to refuse one that is reasonable and necessary. You don't need special words or a form. Put the request in writing, say what you need changed and how it relates to your disability, and keep a copy. If the answer is no or never comes, you generally have one year to file with HUD or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
This guide is for residents and family members in shared housing, group homes and ordinary rentals in Ohio. It summarizes the regulations, the Ohio statute and the HUD and Department of Justice joint statement on reasonable accommodations, all read November 12, 2026. It's general information, not legal advice; for your own situation, contact the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland or a fair housing attorney.
Who can ask
The federal rules protect a person with a "handicap," defined in 24 CFR 100.201 as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of one, or being regarded as having one. Two points come up often in group living:
- The definition excludes current, illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance. The joint statement explains that people in recovery from substance abuse are protected, but people currently using illegal drugs are not. Ohio law likewise lets a provider ask every applicant whether they currently use a controlled substance illegally (ORC 4112.02(H)(17)(d)).
- Someone else can make the request for you. The joint statement says a family member or another person acting on your behalf may ask.
What you can ask for
An accommodation is a change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service. The examples in the regulation and the joint statement include:
- Living with a guide dog in a building with a no-pets policy.
- A reserved parking space near the unit for a resident who can't walk far, where parking is otherwise first come, first served.
- Using a motorized scooter on premises where motorized vehicles are banned, without paying a fee or deposit for it.
Physical changes to the unit, such as grab bars or a ramp, are a different request: a reasonable modification. Under ORC 4112.02(H)(18), a landlord must permit reasonable modifications at the tenant's expense, may ask for a description and assurance that permits will be pulled, and in some cases may require an agreement to restore the interior or payments into an interest-bearing escrow account. It can't require a higher security deposit than other tenants pay.
How to make the request, step by step
- Check whether the home has a preferred process. The joint statement suggests asking in advance, but it says a provider must still consider a request that is made orally or doesn't use its preferred form.
- Write it down. A request can be oral, but the joint statement says writing helps both sides avoid misunderstandings about what was asked and when.
- Say three things: that you have a disability (you don't need to name it), the specific change you're asking for, and how the change relates to your disability.
- Be ready for a verification request, if the disability isn't obvious. A provider may ask only for reliable information that shows you meet the definition, describes the accommodation and shows the link between them. The joint statement says this can often come from you, for example proof that someone under 65 receives SSI or SSDI, or from a doctor, a peer support group, a non-medical service agency or another reliable third party. Medical records or details of your diagnosis usually aren't necessary.
- Keep copies and dates of everything you send and receive.
- Talk through alternatives. If the provider says your exact request isn't reasonable, it should discuss whether another accommodation would meet your need. If a reasonable alternative works, the provider must grant it.
A short request you can adapt
Date: ____
To: (name of owner, manager or house manager)
From: (your name and room or unit)I have a disability, and I am requesting a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act and Ohio Revised Code 4112.02. I'm asking that (describe the exception or change to the rule, policy or practice). I need this because (briefly explain how it relates to your disability). If you need verification, please tell me what information you need. Please reply in writing by (a date about 10 days out). Thank you.
Signature: ____
The 10-day reply date is a suggestion, not a legal deadline. The joint statement says providers must respond promptly, and that an undue delay may count as a refusal.
When a provider can say no
According to the joint statement, a request can be denied if it wasn't made by or for a person with a disability, if there's no disability-related need, or if it isn't reasonable because it would impose an undue financial and administrative burden or fundamentally alter the provider's operations. Burden is judged case by case. A provider also doesn't have to house someone whose tenancy would be a direct threat to others' health or safety, but that has to rest on an individualized assessment of reliable, objective evidence, not fear or stereotypes. A provider can't charge an extra fee or deposit as a condition of granting an accommodation.
If the answer is no
| Where | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HUD fair housing complaint | Not later than one year after the practice occurred or ended | 42 U.S.C. 3610(a)(1)(A)(i) |
| Ohio Civil Rights Commission charge | In writing, under oath, within one year | ORC 4112.05 |
Don't wait for the deadline. Write down what happened while you remember it, and get advice early.
Related reading
If you live in a shared house, our guide to group home resident rights in Ohio explains when landlord-tenant law applies, and the group home intake checklist lists questions to ask before you move in. ACC Solutions offers group home living in Cleveland; our homes are housing, not treatment. Residents and family members can reach us at (216) 238-5999 or support@accmgmtsolutions.com. We work asynchronously, so family members in any time zone can reach us by email or the contact form.
ACC Solutions team
Phone: (216) 238-5999 · Email: support@accmgmtsolutions.com · Contact form
6545 Market Ave N, Canton, OH 44721
We work asynchronously, so you can reach us by email or the contact form from any time zone; you don't need to catch us during Ohio business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reasonable accommodation in housing?
A change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service that a person with a disability needs to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. 24 CFR 100.204 and Ohio Revised Code 4112.02(H)(19) make it unlawful to refuse a reasonable one.
Does a reasonable accommodation request have to be in writing?
No. The HUD and Department of Justice joint statement says a request can be oral or written and doesn't need the words reasonable accommodation, but writing it down helps prevent misunderstandings.
Can a housing provider ask about my diagnosis?
Usually not. If the disability isn't obvious, the provider may ask for reliable information that shows you meet the legal definition, describes the accommodation and shows the link to your disability. Detailed medical records are usually not necessary.
Are people in recovery protected by fair housing law?
The joint statement says people recovering from substance abuse are protected, while current illegal use of a controlled substance is excluded from the definition of handicap in 24 CFR 100.201.
How long do I have to file a fair housing complaint in Ohio?
Generally one year: with HUD under 42 U.S.C. 3610, or with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission under Ohio Revised Code 4112.05.
