---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19506"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19506"
heading: "Accelerating Home Building Act"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19506"
units:
  - "Chapter 165 — Increasing Housing Supply"
  - "Subchapter I — Building More in America"
---

# §19506. Accelerating Home Building Act

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Affordable housing—** The term “affordable housing” means housing for which the total monthly housing cost payment is not more than 30 percent of the monthly household income for a household earning not more than 80 percent of the area median income.
  - (2) **Covered structure—** The term “covered structure” means—
    - (A) a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25 dwelling units; and
    - (B) includes—
      - (i) an accessory dwelling unit;
      - (ii) infill development;
      - (iii) a duplex;
      - (iv) a triplex;
      - (v) a fourplex;
      - (vi) a cottage court;
      - (vii) a courtyard building;
      - (viii) a townhouse;
      - (ix) a multiplex; and
      - (x) any other structure with not less than 2 dwelling units that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) considers appropriate.
  - (3) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means—
    - (A) a [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12), as defined in [section 5302(a) of this title](/usc/42/5302.md?p=a);
    - (B) a municipal membership organization; and
    - (C) an Indian tribe, as defined in [section 5302(a) of this title](/usc/42/5302.md?p=a).
  - (4) **High opportunity area—** The term “high opportunity area” has the meaning given the term in section 1282.1 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
  - (5) **Infill development—** The term “infill development” means residential development on small parcels in previously established areas for replacement with new or refurbished housing that utilizes existing utilities and infrastructure.
  - (6) **Mixed-income housing—** The term “mixed-income housing” means a housing development that is comprised of housing units that promote differing levels of affordability in the community.
  - (7) **Prereviewed designs—** The term “prereviewed designs”, also known as pattern books, means sets of [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) plans that are assessed and approved by localities for compliance with local building and permitting standards to streamline and expedite approval pathways for housing [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7).
  - (8) **Rural area—** The term “rural area” means any area other than a city or town that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants.
  - (9) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)” means the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development.
- (b) **Authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) is authorized to award grants to eligible entities utilizing funds appropriated for such purpose to select prereviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, except that such grant awards may not be used for [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), alteration, or repair work.
- (c) **Considerations—** In reviewing applications submitted by eligible entities for a grant under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall consider—
  - (1) the need for affordable housing in the service area of the eligible entity;
  - (2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity;
  - (3) coordination between the eligible entity and a [State agency](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12); and
  - (4) coordination between the eligible entity and [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), local, and regional transportation planning authorities.
- (d) **Set-aside for rural areas—** Of the amount made available in each fiscal year for grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall ensure that not less than 10 percent shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are located in rural areas.
- (e) **Reports—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall require eligible entities receiving grants under this section to report on—
  - (1) the impacts of the activities carried out using the grant amounts in improving the production and supply of affordable housing;
  - (2) the prereviewed designs selected using the grant amounts in their communities;
  - (3) the number of permits issued for housing development utilizing prereviewed designs; and
  - (4) the number of housing units produced in developments utilizing the prereviewed designs.
- (f) **Availability of information—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall—
  - (1) to the extent possible, encourage localities to make publicly available through a website information on the prereviewed designs selected and submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) by eligible entities receiving grants under this section, including information on the benefits of use of those designs; and
  - (2) collect, identify, and disseminate best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) regarding such designs and make such information publicly available on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- (g) **Design adoption and repayment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may require an eligible entity to return to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) any grant funds received under this section if the selected prereviewed designs submitted under this section have not been adopted during the 5-year period following receipt of the grant, unless that period is extended by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2).
- (h) **Technical assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may set aside not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated in a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to grant recipients under this section and pregrant technical assistance to prospective applicants.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 119–101, title II, § 209, July 11, 2026, 140 Stat. 878.)