Ashton — Ch. 38 Human Relations § 38-34
Civil rights violations—Generally
Operative Text
It is a civil rights violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of unlawful discrimination or familial status, to: (1) Transaction. Refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction. (2) Terms. Alter the terms, conditions or privileges of a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith. (3) Offer. Refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a bona fide offer in a real estate transaction from a person. (4) Negotiation. Refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction with a person. (5) Representations. Represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is so available, or fail to bring a property listing to the person's attention, or refuse to permit person to inspect real property. (6) Publication of intent. Make, print, circulate, post, mail, publish or cause to made, printed, circulated, posted, mailed, or published any notice, statement, advertisement or sign, or use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record or inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on unlawful discrimination or unlawful discrimination based on familial status, immigration status, source of income, or an arrest record, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination. (7) Listings. Offer, solicit, accept, use or retain a listing of real property with knowledge that unlawful discrimination or discrimination on the basis of familial status, immigration status, source of income, or an arrest record in a real estate transaction is intended. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/3-102.
Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-34 identifies a broad set of actions in real estate transactions that constitute civil rights violations when motivated by unlawful discrimination or a person's familial status. Covered conduct includes refusing to deal, altering transaction terms, withholding or failing to transmit offers, misrepresenting property availability, publishing discriminatory notices or preferences, and accepting listings with discriminatory intent. The provision applies to owners, real estate brokers, salespersons, and any other person participating in a real estate transaction, and mirrors protections found in Illinois state law at 775 ILCS 5/3-102.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-34, compliant property owners and managers treat all prospective tenants and buyers consistently regardless of familial status, immigration status, source of income, arrest record, or other protected characteristics. Operators generally ensure that listings, advertisements, application forms, and communications contain no language that signals a preference or limitation based on those characteristics. Staff and agents involved in showing, negotiating, or processing real estate transactions are typically trained to transmit all bona fide offers and to represent property availability accurately to every prospective party.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-34 establishes that tenants and prospective tenants have the right to engage in real estate transactions free from discrimination based on familial status, immigration status, source of income, arrest record, and other protected characteristics. If a person believes an owner, broker, or salesperson has refused to deal, misrepresented availability, altered terms, or published discriminatory notices in violation of this section, general enforcement paths may include filing a complaint with a local human relations commission or a fair housing organization. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Ashton's human relations ordinance and the parallel Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/3-102) can help a person understand the options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation