New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIV - Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Part 681 - Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Section 681.10 - Buildings and equipment

(1) Small residential units shall be designed with outward appearances comparable to typical single-family residences. If more than one SRU is constructed on a single piece of State-owned land, the placement of such facilities shall be consistent with local zoning requirements and surrounding home placements.

(2) Persons served in such facilities shall participate in community-based day and recreational programs. Exceptions to this requirement may only be made for documented need of the person based on the annual review, and approval of the commissioner.

(3) Special attention shall be given in the design of these facilities so that they are fully accessible in all features and equipment to persons with physical disabilities.

(4) To the extent practicable, SRU's shall be physically separate from existing developmental center buildings and not in close proximity to other SRU's. Thus, siting of these facilities shall be on public roads bordering the community at large to ensure that the facilities are distant and unrelated to the developmental center.

(5) The maximum allowable capacity shall be no more than 12 beds. Lower SRU capacities shall be designed for whenever feasible.

(6) Small residential units shall be operated using their own support services and shall, whenever possible, obtain those support services from resources in the community at large.

(7) Landscaping considerations shall be incorporated into the overall design of each facility so as to promote community integration.