---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4626"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4626"
heading: "Housing replacement by Federal agency as last resort"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4626"
units:
  - "Chapter 61 — Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs"
  - "Subchapter II — Uniform Relocation Assistance"
---

# §4626. Housing replacement by Federal agency as last resort

- (a) If a program or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) undertaken by a [Federal agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=1) or with [Federal financial assistance](/usc/42/4601.md?p=4) cannot proceed on a timely basis because [comparable replacement dwellings](/usc/42/4601.md?p=10) are not available, and the head of the [displacing agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=11) determines that such dwellings cannot otherwise be made available, the head of the [displacing agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=11) may take such action as is necessary or appropriate to provide such dwellings by use of funds authorized for such [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). The head of the [displacing agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=11) may use this section to exceed the maximum amounts which may be paid under sections [4623](/usc/42/4623.md) and [4624](/usc/42/4624.md) of this title on a case-by-case basis for good cause as determined in accordance with such regulations as the head of the [lead agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=12) shall issue.
- (b) No [person](/usc/42/4601.md?p=5) shall be required to move from his dwelling on account of any program or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) undertaken by a [Federal agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=1) or with [Federal financial assistance](/usc/42/4601.md?p=4), unless the head of the [displacing agency](/usc/42/4601.md?p=11) is satisfied that comparable replacement housing is available to such [person](/usc/42/4601.md?p=5).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 206, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1898; Pub. L. 100–17, title IV, § 409, Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 253.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–17 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “If a Federal project cannot proceed to actual construction because comparable replacement sale or rental housing is not available, and the head of the Federal agency determines that such housing cannot otherwise be made available he may take such action as is necessary or appropriate to provide such housing by use of funds authorized for such project.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–17 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “No person shall be required to move from his dwelling on or after January 2, 1971, on account of any Federal project, unless the Federal agency head is satisfied that replacement housing, in accordance with section 4625(c)(3) of this title, is available to such person.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–17 effective on effective date provided in regulations promulgated under section 4633 of this title (as amended by section 412 of Pub. L. 100–17), but not later than 2 years after Apr. 2, 1987, see section 418 of Pub. L. 100–17, set out as a note under section 4601 of this title.