---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4156"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4156"
heading: "Waiver and modification of standards"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4156"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Design and Construction of Public Buildings to Accommodate Physically Handicapped"
---

# §4156. Waiver and modification of standards


The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of General Services, with respect to standards issued under [section 4152 of this title](/usc/42/4152.md), and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development, with respect to standards issued under [section 4153 of this title](/usc/42/4153.md), and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Defense with respect to standards issued under [section 4154 of this title](/usc/42/4154.md), and the United States Postal Service with respect to standards issued under [section 4154a of this title](/usc/42/4154a.md)—

- (1) is authorized to modify or waive any such standard, on a case-by-case basis, upon application made by the head of the department, [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), or instrumentality of the United States concerned, and upon a determination by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) or [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), as the case may be, that such modification or waiver is clearly necessary, and
- (2) shall establish a system of continuing surveys and investigations to insure compliance with such standards.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–480, § 6, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 94–541, title II, § 201(6), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2508.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–541, in introductory text, inserted reference to the United States Postal Service with respect to standards issued under section 4154a of this title and struck out “is authorized” at end; in par. (1), inserted introductory words “is authorized”; and in par. (2), substituted “shall establish a system of continuing surveys and investigations” for “to conduct such surveys and investigations as he deems necessary”.