Chesterfield County sits on the peninsula between the James River and the Appomattox River, with 13 communities that run from Bon Air, Midlothian and Brandermill in the north to Ettrick, Enon and Matoaca in the south. Most of the houses here went up in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and many of them have a full staircase to the bedrooms and a second one down to a finished basement.
That layout is common from Chester to Woodlake, and it is the reason a lot of families here start asking about stair lifts. This page walks through what Chesterfield homes and lots mean for the kind of lift you need, and which programs may help with the cost.
Of the county's 151,853 housing units, 117,309 are single-unit detached homes and 10,316 more are single-unit attached, such as townhouses. That is roughly 84 percent house-type living. Fewer than 9,300 units predate 1960, so most homes are late-suburban rather than historic.
In a 1970s to 1990s colonial or townhouse, the main staircase usually runs in one straight flight between two landings. A straight rail stair lift is built for exactly that, and it mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall.
If there is also a basement flight, that is a second straight run and a second lift. Many owners start with the bedroom stairs and add the basement later if laundry or a den is down there.
The county straddles the Atlantic Seaboard fall line. Western sections are rolling Piedmont with creek-cut lots, while the east flattens into Tidewater coastal plain.
On those sloped Piedmont lots you see a lot of split-level homes and raised ranches. These often have short half-flights inside plus steps at the front door. Short flights with a turn or landing may call for a curved rail, and entry steps may need an outdoor-rated lift or a platform lift, depending on the height and the space.
Ranch-style homes can look like they need nothing, but check the garage or back door. A few steps there are often the ones that keep someone from getting in and out safely.
Median property value is roughly $366,000, so many older owners hold real equity in a house they plan to stay in.
For those households, a stair lift is often the change that lets a parent keep using the bedroom they already have. The northern half toward Richmond is dense suburb and the southern half toward Petersburg and the Tri-Cities stays semi-rural, and I-95, I-295, State Route 288 and the Powhite Parkway Extension make both easy to reach for measuring and service visits.
The program with the clearest stair lift coverage is the Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants. Its source lists installing chairlifts as an eligible modification, with grants of up to $10,000 and no repayment. You apply through a Virginia Housing accepted agent serving your locality, not directly.
Veterans should know the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, so do not count on it for a lift. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts on their source page, so ask the VA before you plan around them.
Several local and state options, including the CCC Plus waiver, USDA Section 504 and county rehab funds, cover home repairs or modifications without naming stair lifts. Statewide, the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) are also worth asking about. Senior Connections - Capital Area AAA (PSA 15) at (804) 343-3000 can help you sort out which ones fit.
A state housing authority grant of up to $10,000 with no repayment, and installing chairlifts is listed as an eligible modification. Tracks cover disabled veterans, homeowners and renters by income; apply through a Virginia Housing accepted agent, and call (877) 843-2123 with questions.
A federal VA grant of up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. The source names ramps and widened doorways but does not mention stair lifts.
A federal VA grant of up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. The source does not list stair lifts among covered modifications.
A lifetime VA grant of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically justified home improvements certified by a VA physician. It does not cover stair lifts; the source excludes porch lifts and stair glides.
A state Medicaid waiver for people who would otherwise need nursing-facility level care, and it covers environmental modifications and assistive technology. Stair lifts are not named; the process starts with a screening referral through the local Department of Social Services.
Repair loans and grants for very-low-income homeowners, with grants limited to owners age 62 and up and capped at $10,000 over a lifetime. Stair lifts are not mentioned, and only addresses in eligible rural areas qualify.
A nonprofit repair program for income-eligible homeowners that lists ramps and tub-to-shower conversions as examples; stair lifts are not mentioned. In Chesterfield it serves only South Chesterfield/Ettrick/Matoaca, and the number is (804) 447-3841.
County-administered federal rehab assistance for low- and moderate-income homeowners, delivered with Habitat for Humanity, project:HOMES and Rebuilding Together Richmond. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the source.
A nonprofit that offers advocacy, peer support and information and referral for people with significant disabilities in Chesterfield and nearby localities. It does not fund stair lifts directly, but it can point you to options at (804) 353-6503.
Older adults
24 E. Cary Street, Richmond, 23219
Veterans
1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Room 1M-169A, Richmond, 23249
Usually yes, since each flight needs its own rail. In most 1970s to 1990s Chesterfield homes both runs are straight, which keeps things simple, and many owners do the bedroom flight first.
Often it will, but split-levels and raised ranches tend to have short half-flights and entry steps. Depending on turns and landings, you may need a curved rail inside and an outdoor or platform lift at the door.
The Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants list installing chairlifts as eligible, up to $10,000 with no repayment. You must apply through a Virginia Housing accepted agent; call (877) 843-2123 to start.
No. The HISA source excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Veterans with a service-connected disability may look at the Granting Freedom track of the Virginia Housing grants, or contact the McGuire VA Medical Center Benefits Office at (804) 675-6546.
USDA Section 504 grants are limited to homeowners age 62 and up who cannot repay a loan, capped at $10,000 over a lifetime. Stair lifts are not named, and the address must fall in an eligible rural area.
Senior Connections - Capital Area AAA (PSA 15) at (804) 343-3000 handles aging services for the area. Resources for Independent Living at (804) 353-6503 also offers information and referral for people with significant disabilities.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
