Burbank — Ch. 7½ Art. I In General (Housing and Human Rights) § 7½-5
Blockbusting
Operative Text
It is a violation for any person to: (1) Solicit for sale, lease, listing or purchase any residential real estate, on the grounds of loss of value due to the 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 or handicap. (2) Distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to include any owner of residential real estate to sell or lease his or her property because of any present or prospective changes in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status or handicap of residents in the vicinity of the property involved. (3) 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 to sell or lease his or her property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status or handicap.
Burbank Ch. 7½ Art. I § 7½-5 prohibits a practice known as 'blockbusting,' in which someone attempts to pressure or persuade property owners to sell or lease by suggesting that the arrival of people of a particular race, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristic will reduce property values or change the character of a neighborhood. The rule covers solicitations, written materials, and deliberate communications—including phone calls—designed to stir fear or alarm among residents. Any person who engages in these tactics, regardless of their role in a transaction, is in violation of this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Burbank Ch. 7½ Art. I § 7½-5, compliant property owners and real estate professionals avoid any solicitation, mailing, or communication that references the protected characteristics of current or incoming neighborhood residents as a reason to sell or lease. Operators generally ensure that marketing and outreach materials are free of language that could be construed as exploiting demographic change to drive transactions. Maintaining clear, documented policies against blockbusting practices is a common step taken by responsible property managers operating in Burbank.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Burbank Ch. 7½ Art. I § 7½-5 gives residents a basis to report blockbusting conduct if they receive unsolicited communications—written, verbal, or by phone—that attempt to alarm them about the demographic makeup of their neighborhood in order to pressure a sale or lease. Tenants and homeowners who believe they have been targeted by such tactics can document the communications and file a complaint with Burbank's housing or human rights office, or reach out to a local fair-housing or tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies. This provision reflects broader fair-housing protections, and multiple enforcement and complaint pathways may be available depending on the circumstances.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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