Ashton — Ch. 38 Human Relations § 38-39
Exemptions
Operative Text
(a) Generally. Nothing contained in section 38-34 shall prohibit: (1) Private sales of single-family homes. a. Any sale of a single-family home by its owner so long as the following criteria are met: 1. The owner does not own or have a beneficial interest in more than three single-family homes at the time of the sale. 2. The owner or a member of the owner's family was the last current resident of the home. 3. The home is sold without the use in any manner of the sales or rental facilities or services of any real estate broker or salesman, or of any employee or agent of any real estate broker or salesman. 4. The home is sold without the publication, posting or mailing, after notice, of any advertisement or written notice in violation of section 38-34 (6). b. This exemption does not apply to section 38-34 (6). (2) Apartments. Rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for not more than four families living independently of each other, if the owner resides in one of the housing accommodations. This exemption does not apply to section 38-34 (6). (3) Private rooms. Rental of rooms in a private home by an owner if the owner or a member of the owner's family resides therein or, while absent for a period of not more than 12 months, if the owner or a member of the owner's family intends to return to reside therein. This exemption does not apply to section 38-34 (6). (4) Occupancy restrictions. Reasonable local, state, or federal restrictions regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling. (5) Religious organizations. A religious organization, association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of a dwelling which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color, or national origin. (6) Sex. Restricting the rental of rooms in a housing accommodation to persons of one sex. (7) Persons convicted of drug-related offenses. Conduct against a person because such person has been convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction of the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 USC 802). (8) Appraisals . Persons engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property from taking into consideration factors other than those based on unlawful discrimination or familial status in furnishing appraisals. (9) The owner of an owner-occupied residential building with four or fewer units (including the unit in which the owner resides) from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a person based upon that person's sexual orientation. (b) Housing for older persons. No provision in this article regarding familial status shall apply with respect to housing for older persons. (1) As used in this subsection (b), the term "housing for older persons" means housing: a. Provided under any state or federal program that the department determines is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons (as defined in the state or federal program); b. Intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 62 years of age or older; or c. Intended and operated for occupancy by persons 55 years of age or older; and 1. At least 80 percent of the occupied units are occupied by at least one person who is 55 years of age or older; 2. The housing facility or community publishes and adheres to policies and procedures that demonstrate the intent required under this subsection (b)(1)c; and 3. The housing facility or community complies with rules adopted by the department for verification of occupancy, which shall provide for verification by reliable surveys and affidavits, and include examples of the types of policies and procedures relevant to a determination of compliance with the requirement of subsection (b)(1)c.2 of this section. These surveys and affidavits shall be admissible in administrative and judicial proceedings for the purposes of such verification. (2) Housing shall not fail to meet the requirements for housing for older persons by reason of: a. Persons residing in such housing as of the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived who do not meet the age requirements of subsection (b)(1)b or (b)(1)c of this section, provided that new occupants of such housing meet the age requirements of subsection (b)(1)b or (b)(1)c of this section; or b. Unoccupied units, provided that such units are reserved for occupancy by persons who meet the age requirements of subsection (b)(1)b or (b)(1)c of this section. (3) A person shall not be held personally liable for monetary damages for a violation of this article if the person reasonably relied, in good faith, on the application of the exemption under subsection (b) of this section relating to housing for older persons. For the purposes of this subsection, a person may show good faith reliance on the application of the exemption only by showing that: a. The person has no actual knowledge that the facility or community is not, or will not be, eligible for the exemption; and b. The facility or community has stated formally, in writing, that the facility or community complies with the requirements for the exemption. (c) Child sex offender refusal to rent. Refusal of a child sex offender who owns and resides at residential real estate to rent any residential unit within the same building in which the child sex offender resides to a person who is the parent or guardian of a child under 18 years of age. (d) Arrest records. Inquiry into or the use of an arrest record if the inquiry or use is otherwise authorized by state or federal law. (e) Financial institutions. A financial institution as defined in section 38-32 from considering source of income or immigration status in a real estate transaction in compliance with state or federal law. (f) Immigration status. Inquiry into or the use of immigration status if the inquiry or use is in compliance with state or federal law. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/3-106.
Ashton Ch. 38 Human Relations § 38-39 carves out a set of specific situations in which the fair-housing prohibitions of § 38-34 do not apply. These exemptions cover scenarios such as owner-occupied small rental buildings, private single-family home sales meeting certain conditions, rooms rented within an owner's own residence, housing designated for older persons, and several other narrowly defined circumstances. Importantly, the advertising and notice provisions of § 38-34(6) are explicitly excluded from most of these exemptions, meaning that discriminatory advertising remains prohibited even where the underlying transaction might otherwise qualify for an exemption.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-39, property owners who believe their situation falls within one of the listed exemptions—such as owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units, single-family home sales without a broker, or age-restricted communities—generally document that all qualifying criteria are met before relying on the exemption. Operators of housing for older persons in particular maintain written policies, conduct occupancy verification surveys, and keep formal written statements of compliance, since the good-faith protection from monetary damages under § 38-39(b)(3) depends on those records. Regardless of which exemption may apply, compliant operators do not publish or post any advertisement that would violate § 38-34(6), as that prohibition survives all of the exemptions listed in this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ashton Ch. 38 § 38-39 defines the boundaries of when a housing provider may lawfully decline to apply the full fair-housing protections of § 38-34, so tenants and prospective tenants can use this section to evaluate whether a claimed exemption actually fits their situation. Even where an exemption applies to the transaction itself, the prohibition on discriminatory advertising under § 38-34(6) remains in force, which means a tenant who encounters a discriminatory advertisement may still have recourse regardless of the property type. Tenants who believe an exemption has been improperly claimed can explore options such as raising the issue as a defense in a housing proceeding, filing a complaint with the relevant local human relations authority, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Ashton's ordinance.
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.
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