California law provides that certain construction, installations, or modifications of existing single- or multiple-family dwellings can be excluded from increases in property taxation if the work is performed to make the dwelling more accessible to a severely and permanently disabled person who is a permanent resident of the dwelling. This exclusion does not apply to accessibility improvements and features that are usual or customary for comparable properties not occupied by disabled persons, but will apply only to those improvements or features that specifically adapt a dwelling for accessibility by a severely disabled person.

Revenue and Taxation Code section 74.3(b) defines a severely and permanently disabled person as any person who has a physical disability or impairment, whether from birth or by reason of accident or disease, including but not limited to any disability or impairment which affects sight, speech, hearing, or use of any limbs and which results in a functional limitation as to employment or substantially limits one or more major life activity of that person, and which has been diagnosed as permanently affecting the person’s ability to function.

To qualify for this exclusion:

• The construction, installations, or modifications must be completed on or after June 6, 1990;
• The disabled person must be a permanent resident (not necessarily the owner) of the dwelling; and
• The dwelling must be occupied by the owner and therefore eligible for the homeowners’ exemption.

To claim the exclusion, the disabled person, his or her spouse, or legal guardian must submit to the Assessor the following:

• A statement signed by a licensed physician or surgeon of appropriate specialty which certifies that the person is severely and permanently disabled as defined above. The statement must identify specific disability-related requirements necessitating accessibility improvements or features, and
• A statement that identifies the construction, installation, or modification that was in fact necessary to make the structure more accessible to the disabled person.

The Assessor may charge a fee to the disabled person or his or her spouse or legal guardian sufficient to reimburse the Assessor for the costs of processing and administering the statement.