Belvidere — Ch. 62 Human Relations § 62-35
Blockbusting
Operative Text
It is a civil rights violation for any person to: (1) Solicitation. Solicit for sale, lease, listing or purchase any residential real estate within this city, on the grounds of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap. (2) Statements. Distribute or cause to be distributed written material or statements designed to induce any owner of residential real estate in this city to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective changes in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap of residents in the vicinity of the property involved. (3) Creating alarm. Intentionally create alarm among residents of any community by transmitting communications in any manner, including a telephone call whether or not conversation thereby ensues, with a design to induce any owner of residential real estate in this city to sell or lease his property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, familial status or handicap. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/3-103.
Belvidere Ch. 62 § 62-35 prohibits a practice known as 'blockbusting,' in which someone attempts to manipulate property owners into selling or leasing by suggesting that the arrival of people of a particular race, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, familial status, or disability will reduce property values or change the character of a neighborhood. The rule covers three distinct tactics: direct solicitation, distribution of written materials, and intentional communications designed to create alarm. Any of these actions constitutes a civil rights violation under Belvidere's human relations ordinance, mirroring protections found in Illinois state law at 775 ILCS 5/3-103.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and real estate professionals operating in Belvidere should be aware that under Ch. 62 § 62-35, soliciting listings or purchases by invoking the demographic composition—present or future—of a neighborhood is a civil rights violation. Compliant operators base all communications about property value and market conditions on objective, documented factors rather than references to the protected characteristics of area residents. Maintaining clear records of how solicitations and marketing materials are framed can help demonstrate adherence to this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Belvidere Ch. 62 § 62-35 protects residents from being pressured to sell or leave their homes through fear-based messaging tied to the race, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, familial status, or disability of neighbors. If a resident believes they have received a solicitation, written material, or alarming communication that appears designed to exploit such characteristics, they may have grounds to raise a civil rights complaint under this ordinance or the parallel state provision at 775 ILCS 5/3-103. Tenant-rights organizations and local human relations commissions are among the resources that can help residents understand available complaint and enforcement paths.
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
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation